Help protect your children’s health by ensuring they are up-to-date on vaccinations.
Most schools require children to be current on vaccinations before enrolling to protect the health of all students. Today’s childhood vaccines protect against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases, including polio, measles, whooping cough and chickenpox.
When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk of disease and can spread diseases to others in their classrooms and community—including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer and other health conditions.
School-age children need different vaccines at different ages. Kids ages 4-6 are due for boosters of four vaccines: DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), chickenpox, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and polio. Older children, such as pre-teens and teens, need Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), HPV (human papillomavirus) and MCV (meningococcal conjugate) vaccines. College students also need to make sure they have had a meningitis vaccination before enrolling for classes.
Many children in Garland are eligible for free or low-cost vaccinations through the Texas Vaccines for Children Program (TVFC). The program is funded with federal and state money to provide vaccines to eligible children from birth through 18 years of age. Children who do not have health insurance or who have health insurance that does not cover vaccines qualify for TVFC vaccines, as well as children who are enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
The Garland Public Health Clinic, at 206 Carver Drive, provides low-cost immunizations for infants and children through age 18, as well as immunizations for adults of all ages. Immunizations are given by registered nurses who have specialized training and experience in the safe administration of vaccines.
The Garland Public Health Clinic accepts walk-ins for immunization from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Parents should bring a child’s immunization records with them. Call 972-205-3370 for more information.