In the state of Wisconsin, it is important for parents to know that their children need to go to their family physician, rather than their local or state health departments.  Good to know now that we're knocking on flu season's door and the recent outbreak of whooping cough.

 

As a parent it's hard to know which vaccinations to we should get for our children and when to do it. What I can tell you is that as of October 1, if you are a family living in Wisconsin you will have to schedule your child's vaccinations with your family physician and not the local or state health departments.

However, this week, officials confirmed that a change in federal policy requires state-supplied vaccines to be targeted to children not covered by insurance.  Due to the state’s widespread pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak, state-supplied pertussis vaccines will still be provided to any child visiting a local health department, regardless of whether they have insurance coverage, and state-supplied seasonal influenza vaccine will also be available to all children during the 2012-2013 flu season.

“All families will still be able to access these essential services,” said Karen McKeown, Wisconsin Division of Public Health administrator. “Families with insurance that covers vaccinations should schedule appointments with their family physician, and those without insurance, or whose insurance does not cover immunizations, can still visit their local health departments to immunize their children.”  Also, children eligible for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which provides publicly-purchased vaccines to children enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid and BadgerCare, and Native Americans and Alaskans aged 18 and younger, can continue to receive immunizations from participating public and private healthcare providers.

If you are unsure if your insurance covers vaccinations, contact your insurance company for verification.

If you are in search of which vaccinations your child needs, you can visit the Wisconsin Immunization Registry at  www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/publicaccess.htm

Info from: WI Department of Health Services

 

 

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