Appointments: (956) 686-6100
Appointments: (956) 686-6100
clinic news/updates
It’s That Time of Year Again! Catch Your Child Up on Their Immunizations for Back to School
Heading back to school is an exciting time of year for students and families. Getting children and teens ready to go back to school is the perfect time to make sure they are up to date with their immunizations. Vaccines are essential to a healthy school year and protecting students from serious illness.
In Texas, a student shall show acceptable documentation of vaccination before entering, attending, or transferring to a childcare facility or public or private elementary or secondary school. Vaccine requirements are determined by the state legislature and set by the Texas Department of State Health Services, in conjunction with the Texas Education Agency. More information on the required immunizations for K-12th graders in Texas can be found here. If you’re not sure which vaccines your child needs, please give our office a call at 956-686-6100. You can also check with your school’s nurse to see if they have an updated vaccination record for your child.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many of our parents to delay bringing their children in for yearly checkups. Because annual appointments are when many kids receive their scheduled vaccinations, those who missed their yearly checkups may also have missed needed vaccines. If your child missed vaccines because of the pandemic or for other reasons, it is never too late to bring them up to date.
At Pediatric Center at Renaissance, we’re here to help get your children get caught up on their vaccinations before school starts. We believe vaccinating your family provides the best protection against diseases that can cause serious illness. The health and safety of your children and your family is our top priority.
Schedule your child’s annual visit with our office today and ask us about what vaccines are available. Call 956-686-6100, option 1 to make an appointment.
If you’re worried about the cost of vaccinating your kids before school begins, The Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC) program may be able to help. The TVFC Program provides vaccines for children for families who may not be able to afford them.
Children are eligible to receive vaccinations through the TVFC program if they are 18 years of age or younger and meet at least one of the eligibility criteria listed below:
· Enrolled or eligible for participation in the Medicaid program
· Enrolled in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
· American Indian or Alaska Native (As defined by 25 U.S.C. 1603)
· Uninsured Children: Children who do not have health insurance
· Underinsured Children: Children with private insurance but coverage:
o Does not include vaccines
o Only includes select vaccines
WHY HAS MY PEDIATRICIAN BEEN SO BUSY?
There have been a number of things that have changed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
AT HOME:
- Birth rates have increased since 2020. The last time there was an increase in the number of births was 2014. That means a lot more babies for us to care for!
- Daycares, schools, camps and other institutions are requiring a doctor’s note almost any time a child has a fever. This has resulted in a drastic increase in the number of phone calls and sick visits needed.
- Everyone is playing catch up with sports physicals, annual check ups and vaccines needed for school.
- Anxiety and depression have increased by over 30% in kids of all ages in the last 2 years. The need for mental health appointments has skyrocketed.
- RSV, influenza and other viral illnesses are at an all time high and we are seeing these illnesses earlier in the season than normal.
IN THE OFFICE:
- Precautions for the safety of our patients and families take longer. We are committed to maintaining this standard of sterilization and cleanliness.
- There has been a tremendous increase in phone time and portal messages by staff and providers due to the increase in the number of appointments needed, questions asked by parents and communicating results.
- The amount of paperwork required for staff to fill out for schools, daycares, etc. has increased. In most cases, this requires a patient to be seen in our clinic.
- As soon as the COVID vaccine became available for the pediatric population, we have seen an increase in the number of vaccine appointments requested by our families.
- Our office has often been understaffed due to our employees having to care for themselves and their families.
WHAT HASN’T CHANGED
We are still here for you and your children! Our focus continues to be quality, comprehensive care for our patients.
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Please bring positivity and patience to your appointments. We ask that you respect our office policies and understand many of our policies are in place for patient safety and quality reasons.
Please come on time and be prepared for your appointments…complete any pre-work such as developmental and other CHADIS screening questionnaires; complete self check-in so you can verify demographics such as address, phone number and insurance as well as take care of any outstanding balance you may have.
Please sign up for the patient portal so that you can communicate with our office and obtain medical history, lab results and immunization records.
