AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) is changing the policy for providing immunizations to children. Effective today, the Amarillo Department of Public Health must change eligibility requirements for free or low-cost immunizations at its clinic.
The new TDSHS policies will now only serve uninsured or underinsured children. Children covered by private-insurance will need to go to a private medical provider or pharmacy for immunizations. The state-funded Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC) vaccine will now only be available to children who have:
•Medicaid
•No insurance
•American Indian/Native Alaskan
•Children whose insurance coverage does not include vaccine or only selected vaccine or caps insurance at a certain amount
The charges for uninsured children to receive the vaccine will not change. The charge is $5 for one shot, $10 for two or more. Children with Medicaid will continue to receive immunizations at no cost.
The local changes are a direct result of a state agency rule change. The Public Health Department can no longer immunize children who are fully, privately insured. The change will be in effect on Tuesday, February 7th.
"This change will be different than how we've given shots in the past, but we're committed to helping patients in understanding the new rules and serving as many kids as we can," said Dr. Matt Richardson, director of the Department of Public Health. "Our commitment to protecting children has not changed."
The new state policy requires parents or guardians to sign a form stating whether or not the child is fully, privately insured. This statement will determine if the child can participate in the TVFC program. Children not eligible to participate will be referred to their private doctors or pharmacies to get the needed immunizations.
Childhood immunizations are still important to protect children from communicable and infectious diseases. "The new state rules change the way we use state-funded vaccine. The most important thing is to protect our kiddos from disease. We don't want to lose sight of the reason for the immunization programs," said Casie Stoughton, Immunization Coordinator for the Department. "Protecting kids is all that matters," she said.
These changes apply not only to children, but to adults who receive immunizations as well. Shots given to adults without insurance at the Department of Public Health are based on availability of the state-provided vaccine.
For additional information, call Casie Stoughton, RN, Immunization Coordinator, at 378-6342.
