Ector County Health Department is a Vaccines for Children Provider. The
Texas
Vaccines for Children Program (TVFC) was introduced in 1994 by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The VFC program is a federally
state funded vaccine supply program that guarantees vaccines will be made
available to providers at NO COST in order to immunize children who meet
specific federal and state eligibility criteria. All persons seeking
immunizations at the Ector County Health Department are required to fill out a
short form identifying whether or not a client meets eligibility. This form also
helps facilities determine the total number of clients receiving the “State”
supplied vaccines, as well as, which category each client fell under to qualify
for the vaccines. These numbers are used yearly to help facilities determine how
much vaccine under the VFC program they will possibly need for the forthcoming
year.
Under federal government regulations, children from birth through 18
years of age are eligible to receive vaccines under this program if they
fall under any of the following specific categories:
· Children who are
covered by Chips
·
Uninsured (DOES NOT HAVE health insurance) or
Underinsured (has health insurance that DOES NOT pay for
vaccines, has a co-pay or deductible the family cannot meet, or has insurance
that provides limited wellness or preventions
coverage)
· Children who are of
Native American or Native Alaskan heritage
· Children on
Medicaid
This data is provided to the Texas Department of Health Immunization
Division in Austin, Texas. Filling out the TVFC eligibility screening form
allows the Ector County Health Department to continue receiving TVFC vaccines
free of charge and providing immunizations to qualifying children for a small
administration fee or free.
The goal of the TVFC Program is to raise childhood immunization
rates in the United States without creating a financial burden for providers or
families and to ensure that no TVFC-eligible child contracts a vaccine
preventable disease because of his or her parent’s inability to pay for the
vaccine or its administration.
Today there are more than 6000 Texas Providers enrolled in TVFC. Texas
leads the nation in the number of uninsured and underinsured children.
Ector County Health Department is continually recruiting
providers for the program. The effort will not succeed without the broad
based participation of health care providers who provide care to children &
adolescents who might otherwise not receive vaccines. We would greatly
appreciate you taking the time to pursue the following information. We encourage
you, and your colleagues, to participate in the program to the greatest extent
possible.
About the TVFC Program (pdf - 515 Kb) (7-2007) ** CLICK ON THE LINK AS IT
PROVIDES ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS!
Who can participate in the TVFC program?
What are the benefits of the TVFC Program?
What are the participation guidelines?
What vaccines are available?
TVFC automatically covers all vaccines recommended by the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and approved by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
How do I enroll in the program?
Simply call one of the Immunization Program Staff at the Ector County
Health Department (432) 498-4141ext: 1011, 1010, 1020, 1019, or the DSHS
Regional Office (432) 683-9492 and ask for an enrollment packet.
An administration fee can be charged as long as service is not
denied because the fee cannot be paid (You may charge administration fees up to
the cap established for your area by the Health Care Financing Administration
(HCFA).) The administration fee should never become a barrier to receiving
immunizations under the TVFC program.
The Ector County Health Department Immunization Nurse/Program Manager or
Immunization Outreach Coordinator schedules training sessions at the
provider’s convenience which includes:
- Changes to the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedules
- Updates on Texas School Immunization entry requirements
- Proper Vaccine administration techniques
- Proper Vaccine dosing, route, contraindications, and interval spacing
- Proper Vaccine storage and handling
- How to complete monthly biological reports and submit vaccine orders
- Updates to the TVFC Provider Tool Kit
- Explanations on new vaccines as they become available
You may also schedule general immunization education sessions for your
organization or facility by contacting one of the Immunization Program Staff at
the same extensions as stated above.
The Health Department clerical staff, Immunization Staff, and Nurses serve
as an immunization resource to provide answers to most complex immunization
questions based on CDC, ACIP, AAP, AAFP, MMWRs, and the Red Book
publications.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call (432) 498-4141.EXT.
1011, 1010, 1019, OR 1020.
If you would like to obtain more detailed information about the program,
please visit: