Free vaccine clinic to close; final clinic scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 3

The Providence Alaska Children's Hospital free immunization clinic for children is closing, with the last clinic available at 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, in Suite D-338 (D Tower) at Providence Alaska Medical Center. 

The clinic — held the first Saturday of each month — is closing due to an increase in community resources for pediatric vaccinations and reduced need for the Providence clinic.

Free vaccines for children continue to be available in the community through The Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program. This program, provided through the Alaska Department of Health, is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of an inability to pay.

Alaska children can also receive free immunizations funded through the Alaska Vaccine Assessment Program. This site provides more information about these programs.

For the clinic on Saturday, Aug. 3:

— No appointment is necessary; this is a free walk-in clinic.

— Children are eligible for the free immunization program if they are younger than age 19 and one of the following:

• Medicaid-eligible;
• Uninsured or underinsured (vaccines not paid for by insurance); or
• American Indian or Alaska Native.

— If you or your child has a fever greater than 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, muscle pain, or diarrhea you should not come to the clinic. Please wait until symptoms are resolved to obtain immunizations.

For questions or more information, please call the Pediatric Center at Providence Alaska Children's Hospital at 907-212-3130.

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About Providence Alaska Children's Hospital 
Located within Providence Alaska Medical Center, Providence Alaska Children's Hospital functions as a hospital within a hospital. The hospital is known for its outstanding Newborn Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Maternity Center. The 146-bed inpatient facility offers family-centered care in every area of pediatric medicine and provides pediatric subspecialty services in Anchorage and across the state of Alaska. For more information, visit Providence Alaska Children's Hospital.