Notice: Immunization Policy Change, January 2012
The Flu Just Rolled In
October 1 is Texas Influenza Awareness Day, and the official start to the flu season, which runs October through May. Get your flu shot NOW to protect yourself, your loved ones, and those who cannot be immunized. Everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated. It takes about two weeks for the flu shot to take full effect, so don’t wait – vaccinate!
Getting vaccinated means you will not only protect yourself, but also family and friends. Vaccinating helps safeguard those who are at highest risk of complications or death from the flu, including these groups:
- Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 (note: babies younger than 6 months are too young for the vaccine, and therefore are especially vulnerable.)
- Pregnant women
- People with disabilities
- People with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, COPD, heart disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, kidney and liver disorders, cancer, and morbid obesity
- Travelers, and those living abroad
Flu Vaccine Finder: Locate flu vaccine clinics and pharmacies near you. Simply enter your zip code or city and state:
DCHD Flu Shots
Children are eligible for free flu vaccines if they are enrolled in Children’s Medicaid or CHIP, are uninsured, or have private insurance that does not cover the flu shot. Adults are eligible for free flu vaccines if they are uninsured and low-income. All others will be charged $20 (cash only).
535 S. Loop 288, Suite 1003
190 N. Valley Pkwy., Suite 203
Immunizations hours recently changed:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
7:00AM to 11:30AM & 1:00PM to 4:30PM
7:00AM to 11:30AM & 1:00PM to 6:00PM
7:00AM to 11:30AM
Las horas han cambiaro recientemente:
Lunes, Miércoles, y Jueves
7:00AM a 11:30AM y 1:00PM a 4:30PM
7:00AM a 11:30AM y 1:00PM a 6:00PM
7:00AM a 11:30AM
What to Bring:
- Immunization record for children
- Cards for CHIP, Children’s Medicaid, Medicare, and/or private insurance
- Cash if applicable
Getting a flu shot every year is the best way to prevent the flu, but here are some additional ways you and your family can stay healthy this flu season:
- Wash your hands often – This is the easiest way to stop the spread of germs. Use soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as a back-up, if soap and water aren’t available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth – Some germs can live for several hours on surfaces like door knobs, desks, and tables.
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing – Always cough or sneeze into a tissue and throw it away to prevent the spread of the germs. If you don’t have a tissue, cover your cough or sneeze into the crease of your elbow.
- Stay home when you feel sick – Stay home from work, stores, and public places, and keep sick kids home from school or daycare.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people – and try to avoid contact with others when you are sick.
- Practice good health habits – Get plenty of sleep and exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food.
Flu Information for Pregnant Women:
Did you know that pregnant women are among the highest at risk for complications from the flu? Avoid the unnecessary medical care and the possibility of putting yourself and your baby in harm’s way; get your flu shot today to “Protect 2 from the Flu.” It's safe to get anytime during pregnancy, and it keeps protecting your baby up to 6 months after birth.
Click HERE for more FREE materials, including PSAs, web banners, stickers, flyers, and door hangers!
ImmTrac is a secure and confidential registry available to all Texans. ImmTrac safely consolidates and stores immunization information electronically in one centralized system. Texas law requires written consent for ImmTrac participation and limits access to the Registry to only those individuals who have been authorized by law. ImmTrac contains several million immunization records and continues to rapidly grow with increase participation.
How does ImmTrac help me and my family?
Providers authorized to use ImmTrac can see what immunizations your child has already had, even if they were given in another city or county. So when you come in for shots, your child gets only those that he or she needs.
- This means that your child won't be under-vaccinated and more susceptible to diseases.
- Your child won't be over-vaccinated either, so he or she does not have to go through any more discomfort than is necessary.
- ImmTrac can also print out a shot record you can use to get your child into school or childcare.
- Using ImmTrac, immunization providers can remind you to bring your child in for shots that are due, or to notify you about shots that are overdue.
How does ImmTrac work?
When a health-care provider gives your child an immunization, and you consent to registering this information, the statewide immunization registry, known as ImmTrac, is notified. ImmTrac will keep an electronic immunization record on your child. Some information contained in the registry is the child's name, date-of-birth, address, the name of the parent or guardian, information on the shots given, and who gave them. Optional (but very helpful) information stored in ImmTrac is the child's Social Security number and mother's maiden name. This optional information helps prevent duplicate records from being created.
Texas Vaccines for Children Program:
Since its inception in 1994, Texas has participated in the Federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program. Our version is called the Texas Vaccines for Children Program
, or TVFC. This program guarantees that vaccines would be available at no cost to providers, in order to immunize children who meet the eligibility requirements.
Today there are more than 6,500 Texas providers enrolled in TVFC. Texas leads the nation in the number of uninsured and underinsured children. We also have over 3 million Texas children, 0-18 years, on Medicaid (FFY 2009). Many of these children are not receiving the complete series of immunizations required to protect them from vaccine-preventable diseases. Under the TFVC Program, the following groups of children should be receiving their vaccines for free:
- uninsured or underinsured children,
- children who are covered by CHIP,
- children who are of Native American or Native Alaskan heritage, and
- children on Medicaid.
Other Flu Resources:
Please visit the following links for the latest information on flu in Texas, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Department of State Health Services Immunization Branch