COVID-19 vaccine should be on your back-to-school list, Parkland experts say

Posted: 8/4/2021

Vaccines available during Walk-in Wednesday events

As school bells are beginning to ring it's time for parents to get their children up to date on their immunizations. And along with those childhood vaccinations that are mandated by school districts, physicians with Parkland Health & Hospital System recommend that students over 12 receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

'The safest precaution parents can take to prevent COVID-19 infection from spreading is vaccinating their children,' said Suzette Baez, MD, pediatrician at Parkland's Vickery Health Center. 'Children have spent much of the past year socially distanced, but now that they are headed back to school it is important that they are vaccinated against this deadly virus.'

In Texas, before entering kindergarten, children are required to have been vaccinated for Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis; Polio; Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR); Hepatitis B; Varicella; Meningococcal; and Hepatitis A. Children in daycare must also be vaccinated. For older students, a Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis booster and Meningococcal vaccines are required for school.

Parkland's Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) health centers and Youth & Family centers located throughout Dallas County conveniently offer immunizations without an appointment on Wednesdays. Parents can bring their children on 'Walk-in Wednesdays' to get all of their immunizations for back-to-school.

Immunizations during Walk-in-Wednesdays are available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parents can still walk-in with their children for vaccinations on other days, but appointments are recommended. To schedule an appointment for your child at a Parkland COPC health center, please call 214-266-4000. To schedule an appointment at a Youth & Family Center, please call 214-266-1257.

COVID-19 vaccinations are not currently offered at Parkland's COPCs. For individuals age 12 and older, COVID-19 vaccines are available at pop-up events located throughout Dallas County. The COVID-19 vaccine is offered at no cost to you and you do not need an appointment. To find a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination site near you, please visit https://www.parklandhospital.com/community-calendar.

Parkland also offers vaccinations to those 12 years and older at:
• Ellis Davis Field House, 9191 S. Polk St., Dallas, 75232 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Wednesday - Saturday.
• Vaccination appointments for COVID-19 can be scheduled at Parkland's COPCs by calling 214-590-7000 Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Parkland accepts Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and most major insurance plans. If you do not have insurance, Parkland can provide financial screening to determine if patients qualify for financial assistance. In addition, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program may be able to help. The VFC program provides vaccines for children ages 18 years and younger, who are not insured, Medicaid-eligible, or American Indian or Alaska Native.

For more information about services available at Parkland, visit www.parklandhospital.com. For more information on the VFC program visit www.cdc.gov/features/vfcprogram/

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