Genesis Health Systems

Is the health dept shot clinics free for everyone or just the poor?

I tried to get my daughter a shot per her Drs request at the health dept, and they would not give her one because we have insurance, they also would not let me just pay for it in cash. I am low income, but make sure we have insurance and this happens, I always thought the health dept was for everyone regardless of income anyway

Public Comments

1. I always got my kids' school shots at the health department and I have insurance. since they are the agency requiring the shots, they should give them to any school age kid. they should just scale your payment according to your pay. have your doctor call them and ask what's going on.
2. it used to be for anyone who asked. then they started asking if you were poor. at the least, you should call the Health dept back, and tell them that the doc instructed you to do this. if this is now their policy, they need to inform the doctors - which, obviously, they have not.
3. Hello, I think you will find that the Health Dept. is not permitted to provide services for fees. That would put them in direct competition with doctors and hospitals and at the same time be an attempt to structure them as a discount operation...They would not be able to do their primary job and at the same time provide the service they were created to provide....They do offer, in most states as far as I know, free shots for Senior Citizens....Let me suggest that you contact your local hospital and find out if they conduct health seminars that provide basic health checks and inoculations for Seniors and minors. They may offer low cost shots at those times..Good luck and I wish you well.