Back-to-School Shots Available for Kids at No Cost (Cameron, Calcasieu, Jeff Davis Parishes)

In order to help parents prepare their children for school and day care this fall, the Louisiana Department of Health – Office of Public Health, through its Shots for Tots Program, is holding a back-to-school event for children in Southwest Louisiana.  At these events, children can receive their required immunizations for free, and the Shots for Tots Program will continue toward its goal of having every child in Louisiana up-to-date on their immunizations.

The events will take place as follows:

Calcasieu Parish Health Unit
Saturday, August 9
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
3236 Kirkman St.
Lake Charles, LA

Jefferson Davis Parish Health Unit
Monday, August 11
8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
403 Baker St.
Jennings, LA
 
Cameron Parish Health Unit:
Johnson Bayou Recreation Center
Wednesday, July 30
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
135 Berwick Rd.
Cameron, LA

Grand Lake Recreation Center
Wednesday, August 6
8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
108 Recreation Ln.
Grand Lake, LA

Cameron Parish Health Unit
Friday, August 8
8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
107 Recreation Center Ln.
Cameron, LA

Hackberry Rural Health Clinic
Friday, August 8
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
1020 Main St.
Hackberry, LA
 
Appointments are not necessary.  Parents should bring their children’s shot records.  While children are the primary focus of the program, older children and adults may also get any necessary immunizations, such as tetanus shots.

“Having children fully vaccinated is one of the most successful and cost-effective public health initiatives available to improve our state’s health,” said Alan Levine, LDH secretary.  “But we need the public to take an active role in this effort.  That’s why our health professionals are going out to several different locations, to make visits as convenient as possible. We’re making the shots free.  We’re not requiring appointments.  We’re trying to make it very simple for parents to get their children fully immunized.”

Furthering the goal of full immunization, LDH continually works to get every child entered into the Louisiana Immunization Network for Kids Statewide (LINKS) database. LINKS allows private physicians, hospitals and parish health units to track the immunization status of children from birth. The system helps ensure that all children are properly vaccinated, and in the event of a public health emergency, allows health officials to easily know who has been immunized against a specific disease.

For more information, contact the Calcasieu Parish Health Unit at (337) 478-6020, the Cameron Parish Health Unit at (337) 775-5368, or the Jefferson Davis Parish Health Unit at (337) 824-2193.