New Vaccination Changes

By Cassandra Duvall

CREATED Oct. 1, 2012

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BROWN COUNTY, WI -- New changes take effect Monday, Oct. 1, for those who can get vaccinations at health departments. It’s all part of the Federal Health Care Law.

If you're fully insured, you cannot be immunized at the health department, you have to go to a doctor. But if you are uninsured, or underinsured, the health department is still an option.
 
Jessica Campbell says she knows all too well the importance of getting your child vaccinated. Her daughter had whopping cough last year. 
 
“It was terrible for her,” said Campbell. “She was coughing all the time, and pretty miserable. I guess now they have vaccination for kids now, which is really good.” 
 
Jessica and her daughter always go to the doctor for immunizations, but she knows the health department is easier for other families. 
 
“It could be convenient for other people,” she said. 
 
Chrystal Wooler with the Brown County Health Department says about 14% of their clients come in with insurance.
Wooler and the Northeast Wisconsin immunization Coalition don't want the federal policy change to be a reason not to get your shots. 
 
“We will be monitoring the coverage rates for vaccinations in Brown County, to make sure that they are not dropping,” said Wooler. 
 
“There are plenty of avenues to get your children vaccinated,” said Karen Volkman, Chair of the Northeast Wisconsin Immunization Coalition. 
 
The health department is the place to go if your insurance won't cover vaccinations, you don't have insurance, and you have Medicaid, or are Native American.
 
“We're able to screen people over the phone, which is really helpful,” said Wooler.
 
Health leaders say the best thing to do if you're unsure about coverage call and they'll walk you through your options to protect you and your kids from getting sick.