Parents can bring their children to the UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center for free childhood vaccinations on Saturday, July 11, as families prepare for the upcoming school year.
The Family Practice Clinic on the third floor of the medical center will host a free vaccination clinic from 9 a.m. to noon. The New Mexico Department of Health partnered with the event as part of a statewide effort to help children stay up to date on their immunizations before returning to school.
It aims to ease one of the many tasks parents face during the back-to-school season by providing convenient access to required childhood vaccines. “We’re really excited to host this event to help kids get the vaccines they need so they’re ready for school,” said Dr. Chris Bouchard, medical director for ambulatory care at UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center.
Families who are unable to attend Saturday’s clinic can also take advantage of walk-in vaccination appointments on the following Fridays — July 17, July 24 and July 31 — from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
“We have all the standard vaccines required for children from birth to 18 years old,” Bouchard said. “So, vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, meningitis, tetanus. We’ll also have the HPV vaccine.”
Vaccines Protect More Than School Attendance
Health officials say childhood vaccinations are more than just a school requirement. While many vaccine-preventable diseases have become less common, they can still cause serious illness and long-term health complications if outbreaks occur.
“These are diseases that tend to spread very easily and very quickly among our kids who are often in small, enclosed spaces like their classrooms and the cafeteria,” Bouchard said.
“So, making sure we have as many kids immunized as we can will help prevent the development and spread of those diseases.”
Bouchard said the clinic’s staff trains to make the experience as comfortable as possible because many children feel anxious about getting shots.
“Our team works with children of all ages,” he said.
“We try to use language to help make giving the vaccine a gentler experience. We use distraction techniques to try to reduce some of the pain that’s associated with getting shots. We also try to combine vaccines into fewer pokes when it’s safe to do that.”
Bouchard said the medical center’s goal is to make vaccinations as accessible and convenient as possible so families can receive the preventive care their children need before the new school year begins.
