Free Resources for Meningitis Vaccines

The cost of receiving all the recommended vaccines may seem overwhelming, but you should know that there are places and programs that can make the vaccines more affordable or even provide them at no cost. Here are some places that may be able to help you afford the vaccines or provide them for free.

If you have no health insurance, a good place to start is a public health clinic. Often, these clinics receive money from the federal, state, or local government. At a public health clinic, your child's vaccinations (the actual medicine) will be free, but you may have to pay a small amount to the nurse for giving the shots. If you don't where to find a nearby health clinic, you can look it up at http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.

• Vaccines for Children (VFC): This program might cover the cost of your shots if you are a Medicaid enrollee, uninsured, or are an American Indian or Alaska Native (see http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/default.htm for more information on VFC guidelines).
• The Parent Teacher Awareness Program: This initiative helps parents and local PTAs implement meningococcal disease education initiatives in their schools and communities.
• "Moms on Meningitis" (M.O.M.s): A coalition of mothers across the country whose children's lives have been drastically affected by meningococcal disease, M.O.M.s supports NMA in its efforts to educate local parents, adolescents, young adults, and surrounding communities about meningococcal disease and prevention through media outreach and community activities.
• S.T.O.P Meningitis!: This program, whose name stands for "Share. Teach. Outreach. Protect.," helps clinicians and other health-care providers implement new meningococcal disease immunization recommendations for adolescents and young adults.
• Summer Camp Program: The National Meningitis Association (NMA) has developed resources for camp directors to help educate camp counselors and staff about meningococcal disease and prevention, as well as to help recognize its symptoms to ensure the health and safety of the camp community.
• Together Educating About Meningitis (T.E.A.M.): This unique volunteer program is dedicated to educating the public about meningococcal disease in an effort to protect families across the country from experiencing the devastating effects of this disease.
• Partnership Opportunities: The NMA welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with corporations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and others to expand the reach of important messaging regarding meningococcal disease awareness, prevention, and the urgency of immediate treatment following diagnosis.