Immunizations are an important part of public health, and Texas law requires students in Texas schools be immunized against certain vaccine-preventable diseases.
You and/or your child’s health should not be taken for granted. All students in Texas need up-to-date immunizations before enrolling in school or college. School starts can be hectic for many children and students, and if you haven’t checked you or your child’s shot record yet, you should.
To schedule a back-to-school vaccination clinic in your area contact us today at 855.897.7770 or send us an e-mail to health@hheconcepts.com.
None of us want to see our children get sick. Suppose you could make your child safe from deadly diseases. And suppose that, at the same time, you could also help protect other people from the same diseases. You can do all of these things with one of the easiest, and yet most powerful, health tools ever developed.
You can make sure your children get their vaccinations.
Vaccinations create immunity to a disease before it has a chance to make your child sick. Vaccines are made from the same germs (or parts of them) that cause disease but the germs in vaccines are either killed or weakened so they won’t make your child sick. Your child will develop protection against future infections the same as if he or she had been exposed to the natural disease.
Vaccines are given at an early age because the diseases they prevent can strike when children are young. Additionally, some diseases are far more serious or common among infants or young children.
College students, particularly freshmen living in dormitories, have a higher risk of getting Meningococcal Meningitis. Each year, this disease strikes about 2500 Americans and 10–15% of them will die. Up to 20% of survivors can have long-term disabilities such as brain damage, hearing loss, or limb amputation.
It is currently recommended that a meningitis vaccine be given to all children at their routine well child visit to their doctor when they are 11 or 12 years old. Teens should also get it when they start high school or if they are going to be living in a dorm at college and haven’t gotten a meningococcal vaccine yet.
Vaccines protect against potentially serious diseases including:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a number of vaccine information sheets providing details of the vaccines to be administered. Download vaccine information sheets on the VIS webpage.
If your child goes through life without being exposed to any vaccine-preventable diseases, nothing would happen. However, if your child is exposed, there is a good chance he or she will get the disease.
Sick children miss school and can infect others. These diseases also result in doctor’s visits, hospitalizations and premature deaths.
Several diseases are still fairly common. Some are rare in the United States, but common elsewhere in the world, so don’t assume your child is safe from them.
Visit www.vaccines.gov for more information about childhood immunizations.
Students must bring the following items to the clinic:
A parent or legal guardian must be present in order for Heritage Health to administer vaccines to children under the age of 18.
For more information contact your primary care physician, local health department or Heritage Health at (855) 897-7977.
Payment by cash, check, credit and debit cards is accepted at most school clinics. Checks should be made payable to Heritage Health and be submitted along with a valid Texas driver’s license and another form of identification.
*Children eligible for the VFC Program (Vaccines for Children) include American Indians, Alaska Natives, children with no insurance and children with insurance that does not cover vaccines.
** Proof of current enrollment required..