Where to Find Free or Low-Cost Back-to-School Vaccines in Dallas

This week, some institutions will offer free vaccines to North Texas students who must return to school.

in Wilmer

The Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services will provide the covid-19 vaccine and necessary back-to-school immunizations at a health fair this weekend.

Vaccines will be provided free of charge and no appointment required.

Vaccination clinics will be held this Saturday (Aug. 12) from 9 am to 12 noon at Praise Fellowship Church, 4801 I-45 South Wilmer, 15 miles south of downtown Dallas place. Visit dallascounty.org for more information.

Parkland Hospital Clinic

Parkland Hospital is offering back-to-school immunizations at its Dallas clinic. Every Wednesday, they have walk-in Wednesdays without an appointment. Staff hours are 9am-11am and 1pm-4pm. Parents are required to bring their child’s immunization records. Please call 214-266-4000 or visit parklandhealth.org for more information.

in the wreath

The Garland Public Health Clinic provides low-cost vaccines for children and adults, Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, at 206 Carver Street, Garland. Call 972-205-3370 or visit GarlandTX.gov for more information.

on the oak cliffs

Through Friday, August 11, Clínica Los Barrios Unidos is offering free door-to-door vaccinations and a $20 gift card. They serve children ages 3 to 18 at two pediatric locations: 3111 Sylvan Avenue and 5787 S. Hampton Rd. Suite #365 (third floor) in Dallas. The Sylvan branch is open until 6pm and the Hampton Road branch is open until 5pm.

For more information call 214-540-0300 or visit losbarriosunidos.org

Also read: What vaccinations are mandatory in Texas schools?

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Immunizations for Children in Texas

The Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC) program provides immunizations to children and adolescents 18 years and younger at very low cost. Beneficiaries must meet one of the following requirements:

• Be in or eligible for Medicaid, or
• enroll in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or
• be Native American or Alaska Native, or
• do not have health insurance, or
• Have private insurance that does not cover vaccines or does not cover vaccines required for the school year. These people will receive care at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or a Rural Health Clinic (RHC).

TVFC offers immunizations against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis or Whooping Cough (Tdap, Td or DTaP); Polio; Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR); Hepatitis A and B; Varicella; papillomavirus (HPV); influenza; rotavirus; pneumococcus; and hemophilia B influenza (Hib).

Texas has one of the highest numbers of uninsured and insured children, according to Texas DSHS. Many of these children fail to complete the immunizations needed to protect them from preventable diseases.

You can use the Texas DSHS digital map tool to locate providers near you. There are 22 providers near Tarrant County, 21 near Dallas County, nine in Denton and three in Collin.

Please call 888-777-5320 or 214-819-2163, or email vaccallcenter@dshs.texas.gov for more information.

What vaccinations does the school require?

The state of Texas maintains a list of immunizations required prior to enrollment in private or public school. The dose of each immunization varies by age, but must be completed between kindergarten and 12th grade.

• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough
  
• polio
  
• measles, mumps and rubella
  
• Hepatitis B
  
• chicken pox
  
• meningococcal vaccine
  
• Hepatitis A

See a complete list of Texas State requirements by grade level in this document.

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