The Immunization Program: 

• prevents and controls vaccine-preventable diseases 
• provides and administers vaccines 
• promotes age-appropriate vaccination of all Texans 
• conducts disease surveillance activities  
• assesses vaccine coverage levels 
• and establishes partnerships and collaborations with public and private participants who share the common vision of community well-being to improve the quality and longevity of the people in Region 8 
   

Recruiting and Retaining Providers for the Texas Vaccines for Children Program (TVFC) 

The TVFC Program provides vaccines at no cost to providers so they can provide them to eligible children at little or no cost. Providers include licensed Medical Doctors (MDs), Doctors of Osteopathy (DOs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), Physician Assistants (PAs) and Registered Pharmacists (RPhs). Eligible children include uninsured or underinsured children, children who are covered by the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Native American or Alaskan Native children and children on Medicaid. 

For more information on the TVFC Program or to enroll as a provider, please contact us at Region8.Immunizations@dshs.texas.gov 

Promoting Age-appropriate Vaccinations for Children, Adolescents and Adults/Providing a Vaccine Safety Net 

View current vaccine recommendations for children and adults 

DSHS field offices in Bandera, Boerne, Del Rio, Floresville, Goliad, Hallettsville, Karnes City, Kerrville, Pearsall, Port Lavaca and Seguin provide vaccines to children who qualify and uninsured adults. Visit the Public Health Region 8 homepage for a list of our regional field offices and call to schedule an appointment. 

Promoting the Effective Use of the Statewide Immunization Registry, ImmTrac 

ImmTrac is designed to consolidate immunization records from multiple sources throughout the State and offers many benefits to health care providers and their patients. Region 8 Immunization staff help with enrolling in ImmTrac, education and training on use of the registry or assisting in locating a shot record. For more information on ImmTrac, please contact Jessica Everett at 210-371-8741. 

Conducting Immunization Assessments to Determine Compliance and Vaccine Coverage Levels 

Region 8 Immunization staff conduct population assessments in public and private schools and childcare facilities to ensure compliance with the Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements. For information on school or childcare facility vaccine requirements please contact us at Region8.Immunizations@dshs.texas.gov  

Providing immunization education to the public and medical providers  

The Region 8 Immunization Program provides information and educational materials to the public on the importance of vaccines, vaccine-preventable diseases and promotes vaccines during National Infant Immunization Week in April, National Immunization Awareness Month in August and National Influenza Vaccine Week in October. 

The program provides education and training to providers on immunization recommendations and requirements, vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine storage and handling, vaccine inventory reporting, Texas Vaccines for Children program requirements, ImmTrac, recall/reminder systems, and minimum state vaccine requirements for children and students as well as information on CDC immunization trainings and conferences. 

For free immunization educational materials and literature visit  the Immunizations Publications webpage.

Collaborating and Partnering with Others to Improve Vaccine Coverage Levels and Promote Immunizations 

Region 8 Immunization Program works with community and civic groups, schools, faith-based organizations and other agencies to promote immunizations and provide immunization information and education to these groups and the public.