Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) is offering the seasonal flu vaccine at all of its six clinics for children eligible for Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC). The cost is $10 for new patients and $5 for returning patients.
Dallas County residents from birth to age 18 in the following categories are eligible to receive the flu vaccine from DCHHS under the TVFC program:
- Medicaid eligible
- Uninsured: a child who has no health insurance coverage
- American Indian or Alaskan Native
- Enrolled in Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Underinsured (as defined by the Texas Department of State Health Services): a child who has commercial (private) health insurance, but coverage does not include vaccines; a child whose insurance covers only selected vaccines (TVFC-eligible for non-covered vaccines only); or a child whose insurance caps vaccine coverage at a certain amount. Once that coverage amount is reached, the child is categorized as underinsured. Insured children with vaccine coverage who have high copays or deductibles are no longer considered underinsured. These children are now considered fully, privately insured and are no longer eligible for TVFC vaccines.
To find out whether a child is eligible for TVFC, check with the insurance provider to determine whether immunizations are covered.
“Parents should not wait to get their children vaccinated for the flu,” said Zachary Thompson, DCHHS director. “The flu shot is the best form of prevention against the flu.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu vaccine for almost everyone except children younger than 6 months of age and people who have severe allergies to eggs. The flu vaccine DCHHS provides is an all-in-one shot that protects against multiple flu strains including the H1N1 virus.
“We’re encouraging everyone to get the flu shot as soon as possible because it takes about two weeks for the body to develop the antibodies needed to provide protection,” said Dr. Christopher Perkins, DCHHS medical director/health authority. “Additionally, we urge everyone to practice flu prevention recommendations which will help prevent spreading the virus.”
Those recommendations include cough and sneeze etiquette along with proper hand-washing. DCHHS has flu prevention materials on its website available for the public to download.
The children’s flu vaccine is available at DCHHS Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 214-819-2163. For clinic locations click here.
