July 31, 2012   

The Taylor-Jones-Haskell County Medical Society (CMS) Alliance has received a $1,500 grant from Texas Medical Association’s Be Wise — ImmunizeSM program to help provide vaccinations for high-school students through its Don’t Wait to Vaccinate! program.

The alliance, in conjunction with the Caring for Children Foundation of Texas, will offer vaccination clinics beginning in August and running through December for teens who are eligible for free vaccinations through Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC). TVFC is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost for children at birth through 18 years of age who meet the eligibility requirements.

Teens can receive these vaccinations: meningococcal (required for college admission in Texas), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis/whooping cough), varicella (chickenpox), and human papillomavirus (HPV). Clinics will be at the Medical Care Mission, 1857 Pine St., in Abilene.

The Be Wise — Immunize Local Impact Grants, new this year, aim to provide vaccinations for difficult-to-reach populations. TMA’s Be Wise ― Immunize program has given more than 214,000 shots to Texas children and adolescents since the program began in 2004.

Be Wise — Immunize and the local impact grants are funded by a grant TMA has received from the TMA Foundation (TMAF) thanks to generous support from H-E-B and TMF Health Quality Institute, and gifts from physicians and their families.

TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 46,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans. TMA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the association and raises funds to support the public health and science priority initiatives of TMA and the family of medicine. 

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Be Wise — Immunize is a service mark of the Texas Medical Association.