The Switzerland County Health Department would like to remind all county parents who will have children in school this fall that now is a good time to make sure all vaccination records are current.
Vaccines may be obtained from the Switzerland County Health Department if the child meets the following criteria. Hours for the vaccines are Mondays through Wednesdays and on Fridays from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Children under 19 years of age are eligible to receive vaccinations through the VFC (Vaccines For Children) program if they meet one of the following criteria:
– Eligible for Medicaid
– Uninsured
– Underinsured
– American Indian or Alaska native
Underinsured means the child has health insurance, but the insurance either doesn’t cover the recommended vaccine(s), or only covers a fixed dollar amount for vaccines. A child becomes eligible once the fixed dollar amount is reached.
Children whose health insurance covers the cost of vaccinations are not eligible for VFC vaccines, even when a claim for the cost of the vaccine, and its administration would be denied for payment by the insurance carrier because the plan’s deductible had not been met.
The Vaccines For Children program is a federal program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention buys vaccines at a discount and distributes them to state health departments, and then are passed on to County Health Departments.
Children who are eligible for VFC vaccines are entitled to receive all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
These vaccines protect babies, young children, and adolescents from 16 different diseases.
There is no charge for these vaccines.
– For students entering kindergarten and first grade, required immunizations include: 3 Hep B; 5 DTaP; 4 polio; and 2 MMR.
– For students entering second through fifth grades, required immunizations include: 3 Hep B; 5 DTaP; 4 polio; 2 MMR; and 2 Varicella.
– For students entering sixth through 11th grades, required immunizations include: 3 Hep B; 5 DTaP; 4 polio; 2 MMR; 2 Varicella; 1 Tdap (tetanus and pertussis); and 1 MCV4 (Meningococal conjugate).
– For students entering 12th grade, required immunizations include: 3 Hep B; 5 DTaP; 4 polio; 2 MMR; 2 Varicella; 1 Tdap; and 2 MCV4.
For more information or questions, contact the Switzerland County Health Department at (812) 427-3220.