AdventHealth to offer COVID-19 vaccines and heart screenings at annual physical event for Volusia student athletes

May 25, 2021 — AdventHealth and Volusia County Schools are partnering to enhance the state-mandated physicals for student athletes this year at a three-day event at Daytona International Speedway with optional cardiac screenings and doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.

The free electrocardiogram screenings will be offered for the first time next week after the Volusia County School Board voted in April to begin requiring the tests in 2022 in response to parents and advocates who championed the screenings to prevent student illness or death as a result of undetected heart abnormalities.

“In my career, I have seen too many young patients who had significant cardiac events, and we want to reduce that incidence greatly through efforts like this,” said Dr. Bhavya Trivedi, a pediatric cardiologist and medical director of pediatric electrophysiology at AdventHealth for Children. “One in 300 children and teenagers have an underlying cardiac electrical condition that can lead to arrhythmias. Through ECG reading services, we will be able to recognize potentially at-risk teenagers and provide them with early appropriate treatment.”

Trivedi also volunteers with Who We Play For, a nonprofit that aims to eliminate preventable sudden cardiac arrest among students. AdventHealth has partnered with Who We Play For to perform the screenings for the event at no cost to the student athletes. He will attend the event to read the ECGs for students.

“Cardiac screenings will help prevent life-threatening incidents,” said VCS Superintendent Dr. Scott Fritz. “We are excited to be able to protect our student athletes by starting this program through our partnership with AdventHealth.”

This event is solely for Volusia County Public Schools’ student athletes who are seeking a state-required, pre-participation sports physical. Appointment are available June 3-5 at the Rolex Lounge inside the Speedway. To sign up, go to VCSSportsPhysicals.com

This year, the school district is reporting an increase in student athlete participation with approximately 580 registrations so far. Slots are filling quickly, so families are encouraged to register as soon as possible.

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, which was approved this month for ages 12-15, will also be available at the event. Student athletes across the region were impacted by quarantine requirements as a result of potential COVID-19 exposure last year, and the optional doses of the vaccine are encouraged to help keep athletes healthy and prevent disruptions next school year.

Families can also see their personal physician for the physical and cardiac screening. For those who miss the free ECG screenings at the AdventHealth event, Who We Play For will also offer multiple ECG screening events at the district’s 10 high schools for $20.