NIAM_LogoAs National Immunization Awareness Month continues, the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department wants to focus on babies and young children during the week of August 15-21.

Children need immunizations to protect them from dangerous vaccine-preventable diseases. Infants and young children are at increased risk of having serious complications from these diseases. By the time a child is two years of age, they should have received vaccines that will protect them from fourteen diseases. Children under the age of five are especially susceptible to disease because their immune systems have not built up the necessary defenses to fight infection. By getting their children immunized on time, parents can protect them from diseases and also protect others they come in contact with at school or daycare.

As time quickly approaches for children to go back to school, parents may need to get vaccines for their children. The Brownwood/Brown County Health Department would like to take this opportunity to remind parents of the immunization services available at BBCHD. Children who qualify for the Texas Vaccines for Children program can get all their back to school vaccines at the health department. The child must meet one of the following criteria in order to qualify for the state supplied vaccines:

  • The child must be Medicaid eligible
  • The child must have CHIP
  • The child must be Alaskan Native or American Indian
  • The child must be uninsured, or
  • The child must be underinsured (the child has insurance that does not pay for vaccines, or the child has insurance that pays only for certain vaccines, or the child has insurance that caps vaccine payments at a certain amount; in any of these cases the child is eligible only for the vaccines that the insurance does not pay for.

When you bring your child for vaccines, please bring their shot record and insurance card. The health department now files Medicaid on children and there is no administration fee charged for Medicaid recipients. Children on CHIP are charged the copay shown on the front of the CHIP card. Children who are not on Medicaid or CHIP, but are uninsured or underinsured can get all their vaccines for $14.00.

Walk-in clinics are held on Wednesday at the health department from 8:00-11:30 am, and from 1:00-4:30 pm. Shots are given on other weekdays by appointment.

Nobody likes getting shots, but below are some tips from the health department staff that could make it easier on parents when they take their child for immunizations:

  • Be honest with your child. Always tell them when they are going to get vaccines. If you lie to them or omit this information, your child will learn to not trust you.
  • Never tell your child the shot won’t hurt. Shots do cause some discomfort, but you can explain that while it might pinch or sting, the pain won’t last for long.
  • Please don’t threaten your child with shots. This reinforces to them that vaccines are a punishment or something bad, (and makes them not like everyone at the health department)!
  • Explain to your child why they need to get their immunizations. Even a child as young as four years of age can understand about good medicine that helps keep them healthy.
  • Please don’t scold your child for crying or “not being brave”.
  • When it is time to get their shots, distract your child by singing to them or talking softly. Cuddle them. Let them see you smile. If you take it in stride your child is more likely to react in a more positive manner.
  • Please allow the staff at the health department to advise you on how to hold your young child when they get vaccines. We give a lot of vaccines and know the safest way for your child to be held in order to protect them and the staff administering the vaccine. Even a small two-year-old child can be incredibly strong. It is important that they are restrained in a safe manner to prevent injury. If a parent is not strong enough to hold their child safely and firmly, the staff at the health department are glad to hold the child for the shot, with the parents’ permission.

“At the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department we love children, and we want to help them to stay healthy,” Donna Miller, an LVN at the Health Department stated. “We want to help your child to have a positive experience when they visit us. We are honest with your child and try our best to explain what is going to happen, and we always have a “goody bag” on hand for them after they get their vaccines.”

If parents have questions about vaccines, vaccine scheduling, or the cost of the vaccines, please call the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department at 325-646-0554. Answers about vaccines can also be found at the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.