SM County: Public Health Relaunches Childhood Immunization Programs!

17 Mar SM County: Public Health Relaunches Childhood Immunization Programs!

San Miguel County Public Health puts out the word: Monthly vaccination clinics to provide free access to childhood vaccinations. For more information and to register your child for the next available immunization appointment, visit the“Immunization” tab on the SMCPH website, visit bit.ly/smcphvfc or call (970) 728-4289.

For the most up-to-date schedule of vaccine clinics, visit the vacine page on the county COVID website.

For up-to-date coronavirus information, visit here.

For free coronavirus testing opportunities, visit here.

For all Covid blogs from San Miguel County, go here.

San Miguel County Public Health (SMCPH) has relaunched childhood immunization programs, including a federally supported Vaccines for Children (VFC) program through the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The VFC program enables SMCPH and other providers to administer vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay.

The program offers vaccines to protect children against 16 vaccine preventable diseases including:

Diphtheria
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Influenza (flu)
Measles
Meningococcal
Mumps
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Pneumococcal
Polio
Rotavirus
Rubella (German Measles)
Tetanus (lockjaw)
Varicella (chickenpox)

“The VFC program gives all children better access to their recommended vaccinations so they can get them on time without the barrier of cost,” said Public Health Director Grace Franklin. “Ensuring that children are vaccinated on-time helps to provide immunity to life-threatening diseases before a potential exposure. These vaccines have been in use for decades and are a safe and effective way to protect babies, young children, and adolescents from harmful and contagious diseases.”

Eligible children include all those 18 years of age and younger and is one of the following:

• Medicaid eligible: A child who is eligible for the Medicaid program. (For the purposes of the VFC program, the terms “Medicaid-eligible” and “Medicaid-enrolled” are equivalent and refer to children who have health insurance covered by a state Medicaid program)

• Uninsured: A child who has no health insurance coverage American Indian or Alaska

• Underinsured: A child whose insurance doesn’t cover some or all routinely recommended vaccines.

• Native: As defined by the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603)

SMCPH has private stock of all 16 vaccines in the VFC program available for children with insurance to receive childhood immunizations as well.

“This program gives many families free and convenient access to critical immunizations to protect our youth from preventable illnesses and severe disease,” said County Clinical Coordinator Pam Foyster, RN. “As we move into our new normal and children return to in-person learning and play, it’s important for your child to catch up on well child visits and required/recommended vaccines to protect their health now and in the future.”

Public Health will host a monthly immunization clinic at the SMCPH offices in the Miramonte Building (333 W Colorado Ave, 3rd Floor, Telluride, CO 81435) on the fourth Thursday of each month.

The next clinics will take place on Thursday, March 24 and Thursday, April 28. Medicaid, CHP+, and private insurance are accepted.

According to federal law, no person may be denied a vaccine that is purchased with federal immunization grant funds for inability to pay.

Power The Comeback:

Crowded places, covered faces
Get vaccinated
Stay home when sick and get tested