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MENDOTA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL TO OFFER
IMMUNIZATION CLINIC IN TOWN 

Mendota Community Hospital, striving to meet the needs of children served by the hospital, will host bi-monthly routine childhood immunization clinics in Mendota beginning Wednesday, April 21.  Two sessions of the clinic will be offered, the morning session held from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., at First United Methodist Church at 102 E 6^th Street is for Public Aid, Uninsured, and Underinsured patients and the afternoon session, held from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. in the Community Health Services Department of the hospital, is for those whose insurance covers immunizations at 100%.   The clinic session you bring your child to depends on your insurance coverage. 

Public Aid patients, patients without insurance (the uninsured) or patients who have insurance but it does not pay for immunizations (the underinsured), will receive vaccines the hospital secures through the State of Illinois via the Vaccines for Children program (VFC).  An administrative fee of $15 per injection must be paid at the time of immunization. 

Patients who have insurance that pays 100% for immunizations will attend the afternoon session of the clinic.  Vaccines have been purchased from their manufacturer by the hospital for this session of the clinic.  A patient's insurance company will be billed directly for the cost of each injection and the administration fee.  Vaccines purchased from their manufacturer are VERY expensive with some costing well over $100 each.  For this reason it is SO IMPORTANT to know what your insurance does and does not cover.  If you think you are covered by your insurance for your child's vaccinations and it is discovered that your insurance does not cover vaccinations you will be responsible for any unpaid portion of the bill.  Therefore it is possible that you might owe hundreds of dollars for the injections your child received. 

Remember, if your insurance does not cover immunizations (or if they provide limited coverage) you should attend the morning clinic where you pay only the administrative fee per injection. 

At this time the state of Illinois does NOT allow local immunization clinics to administer the Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine to the underinsured.  For this reason, children requiring a Varicella (chicken pox) vaccination must receive this injection at the LaSalle County Health Department in Ottawa.  The chicken pox vaccine is required for a child to enter kindergarten.

Parents must bring their child's immunization record and their public aid or insurance card to every immunization clinic.  A signed note is required from the child's parent/guardian if someone other than the parent/guardian is bringing the child in for vaccinations.

Appointments are required for either session of the immunization clinic.  Call 815-539-7461 ext. 1411 to schedule an appointment.  For more information or to find out if you have insurance coverage please call Kim at 815-539-7461 ext. 1454.

The 2010 two session clinic schedule includes April 21, June 16, August 18, October 20 and December 15.   These immunization clinics are being held locally for the convenience of parents in the area who want to obtain the necessary childhood vaccinations for their children.