Although summer is in full swing, Dallas County educators are preparing for students to return to school in August. At the top of the preparation list is ensuring children have the proper immunizations before the school bell rings.
“My understanding is that since the pandemic started there is vaccination fatigue, and acceptance of certain vaccines seems to have decreased. But vaccines keep children healthy by preventing infectious diseases. Children miss less school and parents miss school. less to work. When parents don’t get their kids vaccinated, they put everyone — their own kids, their classmates, and their teachers — at risk for diseases that are easily preventable but can be devastating,” said Dr. Dr. Cesar Termulo, Associate Medical Director for the central and eastern regions of Community Oriented Primary Care.
In Texas, before entering kindergarten, children must be vaccinated against diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis; polio; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); hepatitis B; chicken pox and hepatitis A. Children in daycare should also be vaccinated. For older students, diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis and meningococcal immunizations are required before starting school.
If they haven’t already, Parkland providers also urge parents to make sure their children are vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Vaccination remains the best way to prevent a person from getting a severe case of COVID-19 and to help reduce the spread of the virus,” said Dr. Joseph Chang, Parkland Medical Director.
When entering the account MyChart, parents can schedule an appointment for their child’s COVID-19 vaccine at one of COPC’s immunization centers. People who do not have a MyChart account can register online by visiting http://mychart.parklandhealth.org or by calling 214-590-7000 from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Saturday, to schedule an appointment. COVID vaccines are not available at the Parkland ER.
Parents are encouraged to take advantage of convenient access to immunizations on “Walk-in Wednesdays” at one of Parkland’s COPC Health Centers or Youth and Family Centers located throughout Dallas County, where you must make an appointment for your children to receive their immunizations.
During Walk-in-Wednesdays, immunizations are given from 9 am to 11 am and 1 pm to 4 pm, except at the following locations:
- Bluitt-Flowers Health Center, 303 E. Overton Road Dallas, 75216, de 9 a.m. a 11 a.m. y de 1 p.m. a 3:30 p.m.
- Southeast Dallas Health Center, 9202 Elam Road, Dallas, 75217, de 9 a.m. a 11 a.m. y de 1 p.m. a 3 p.m.
Parents can also go to the centers to have their children receive vaccinations on other days, but in that case you must go with an appointment. To make an appointment for your child at a Parkland COPC health center, call 214-266-4000. To make an appointment at a youth and family center, call 214-266-1257.
Parkland accepts Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and most health insurance plans. If you do not have health insurance, Parkland can perform a financial screening and determine if patients qualify for financial assistance. Plus, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program can help. The VFC program offers vaccines for children 18 years of age or younger who are uninsured or have limited coverage, are eligible for Medicaid, or are of American Indian or Alaska Native origin.
For more information on services available at Parkland, follow this link.
For more information about the programrama VCF, follow this link.
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