Childhood Immunizations

About Immunizations
More than 80 percent of the vaccinations children need should be given in the first 24 months of life because very young children are especially vulnerable to disease. Immunizations are vital to protecting our children against many preventable and sometimes deadly illnesses.

Infant and childhood immunizations are provided at all WCCHD clinics year round by appointment and on a walk-in basis. Parents or guardians should bring their children's immunizations records with them to the clinic. Visit our Locations & Hours page to see a detailed schedule of when immunizations are administered and to locate the clinic most convenient for you. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a complete Immunization Schedule for 0-6 years of age.

Immunization Requirements for School-Aged Children
School-age children are required to have certain immunizations before school districts will allow them to enroll in the fall. Specific vaccination requirements for school attendance are available from schools, physicians' offices and at WCCHD clinics. WCCHD also provides a School Immunization Reference Guide  online.

Additional information also is available online at the Department of State Health Services, Immunization Division (School & Childcare Facility Requirements) or by calling 1-800-252-9152. The requirements apply to students in all public and private primary and secondary schools in Texas.

Forms and Fees
Immunization forms necessary for your visit to WCCHD may be downloaded here. If a child has Medicaid, there is no fee. If a child has CHIP, the fee will be based upon their co-pay.The maximum cost is $10 per child. No child is denied immunizations if the family is unable to pay the administrative fee.

Texas Vaccine for Children Program
WCCHD administers the Texas Vaccine for Children Program. This program provides state-purchased vaccine at no cost to private physicians, clinics, and public health agencies to administer to uninsured and underinsured children. These providers agree to charge only a modest administration fee. WCCHD recruits providers, distributes the vaccine, offers technical assistance, and evaluates immunization levels for private and public providers. See the list of Texas Vaccine for Children providers.

ImmTrac
ImmTrac is the Texas immunization registry developed by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). ImmTrac is a free, confidential registry designed to consolidate immunization records from multiple providers and store a child’s immunization information electronically in one secure central system. ImmTrac offers physicians and other healthcare providers and authorized users easy online access to a child’s immunization history. The Registry is part of a DSHS initiative to increase vaccination coverage for children across Texas.

With written parental consent, the ImmTrac Registry receives vaccination information for a child from private and public healthcare providers across the state, including input from the Vital Statistics Unit of DSHS, Women, Infant and Children (WIC) clinics, Medicaid, the Texas-Wide Integrated Client Encounter System (TWICES), and health plans. Upon registration with ImmTrac, immunization information is available to schools, licensed child-care facilities, local health departments, public health districts, payors, and state agencies having legal custody of a child. Parents may request their child's ImmTrac record from their physician or their local health department.

For more information visit the Texas Department of State Health Services’ website at: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/immtrac/default.shtm

Community Outreach and Education
In an effort to keep the community aware of WIC benefits, the WIC Program participates in local health fairs, and provides educational presentations. Please call the Texas Vaccine for Children Coordinator at (512) 943-3645 or the Imm Trac Specialist at (512) 943-3657 for more information.

Contact Information
Please call the WCCHD clinic in your area for any questions or concerns, and to confirm the hours vaccinations are available and the cost of vaccinations. Clinic locations, phone numbers, and the detailed schedule of immunizations hours are all provided on the Locations & Hours page.