Back-to-school season is here! Time for parents to gather school supplies and back packs. But it's also the perfect time to ensure children are up to date on their vaccines. 

To celebrate the importance of immunizations for people of all ages, and make sure children are protected with all the vaccines they need as they go back to school, Caring for Children Foundation of Texas is joining with organizations nationwide in recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month.

Caring for Children Foundation is offering families eligible for the Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC) program an opportunity to get free back-to-school shots. The local non-profit will host immunization outreach clinics through its popular Care Van® Program.  The Care Van mobile unit will visit several host site locations throughout North Texas providing parents the opportunity to ensure their children are properly immunized prior to the upcoming school year. The Care Van operates primarily during evening hours and on Saturdays to help accommodate working families. No appointments required; parents must bring child’s most recent vaccination records. 

As a TVFC provider, the Care Van Program can provide vaccines to North Texas children from birth to age 18. Children in the following categories are eligible to receive free immunizations at Care Van outreach locations:

• Medicaid eligible
• Uninsured: a child who has no health insurance coverage
• American Indian or Alaskan Native
• Underinsured (as defined by the Texas Department of State Health Services): a child who has commercial (private) health insurance, but coverage does not include vaccines; a child whose insurance does not cover all ACIP recommended vaccines (TVFC-eligible for non-covered vaccines only); or a child whose insurance caps vaccine coverage at a certain amount. Once that coverage amount is reached, the child is categorized as underinsured). 

“Getting children all of the vaccines recommended by CDC’s immunization schedule is one of the most direct, simple and cost-effective ways to help keep kids healthy,” said Craig Jeffery, executive director for Caring for Children Foundation of Texas. “However, because of high cost or limited access to medical care, more than two million children currently living in Texas go without all the recommended immunizations needed to prevent serious disease.” 

To find a Care Van outreach location nearest you - visit www.carevan.org/neighborhood.htm. To learn more about recommended childhood vaccines visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines or Texas school requirements at www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize.