No-cost clinics provide immunizations for children

It’s that time again.

The Southern Nevada Health Coalition’s Vaccine for Children program is partnering with various agencies to sponsor no-cost immunization clinics for youths going to school.

“It is open to children up to 18,” said Stacey Gross, project manager with the Southern Nevada Immunization and Health Coalition.

There are 411,000 eligible children in Nevada, according to Christine Mackie, a program manager with the Nevada State Health Division.

Depending where the clinic is set up, Gross said it could have from 100 to 1,000 children pass through for shots.

Vaccines for Children has no-cost immunizations available for children who are uninsured, medicaid-eligible or underinsured.

“Federal programs focus on certain groups that may not have routine access to preventative care,” Gross said.

The clinic is also available for those who are American Indian or native Alaskans.

Mackie said the vaccine for children program is a federal entitlement program. One of its specifications is that certain ethnic groups have free access to vaccination because they might be more prone to certain diseases.

“Their genetic tree is very linear,” she said.

Shots administered include tetanus; diphtheria; pertussis, known as Tdap; measles, mumps and rubella, known as MMR; polio; chickenpox; and hepatitis A and B.

Gross recommends booster shots to ward off certain diseases that might have an epidemic.

“Across the country there is a huge increase in the epidemic whooping cough,” Gross said.

Each shot depends on the person’s age and what grade he is entering.

Other recommended shots include human papillomavirus, or HPV, which is recommended for adolescents.

The next Henderson-area no-cost clinic is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway.

People can keep current with immunization records by visiting izrecord.nv.gov.

For more information, visit vaxvegsa.org.

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 702-387-5201.