Shots for Tots and Teens

The Shots for Tots and Teens program in Aurora was started 13 years ago. "At the time, Colorado was ranked 50th in the United States for number of children ages 19 to 35 months who were fully immunized.  We wanted to see if there was any way the Fire Department could help," says Kevin Waters, EMS Bureau Manager of the Aurora Fire Department. The Fire Department reached out to Tri-County Health Department, the Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition, and local Rotary Clubs for support and to identify the areas of greatest  need. 

The first clinic in Aurora was selected after extensive research determined children in the county were the most at-risk for under-vaccination in the region. The results of this collaboration are still going strong. On the second Saturday of every month, experienced immunization nurses and firefighter paramedics with the Aurora Fire Department, with the help of dedicated volunteers, provide immunizations at convenient walk-in clinics at Aurora Fire Station #2 (12600 Hoffman Boulevard). This program provides all recommended immunizations for children and teens (newborn through 18-years old) at no or low cost. Medicaid is accepted and low-cost immunizations are available for uninsured families. Costs vary for families with insurance including CHP+. Since the program's launch in 2002, Shots for Tots and Teens has provided roughly 50,000 vaccines to more than 20,000 children in Aurora.

The Shots for Tots and Teens partners realize that immunizations are only one part of what helps keep a child healthy, so during the clinic, they hand out materials to guide patients and their families to medical homes throughout the area, along with information about insurance options and enrollment services.  The next Aurora clinic will be offered on Saturday April 11th.  Shots for Tots and Teens has also expanded to include a clinic in the Denver Metro area with partners from Denver Health and Denver Public Health. The Denver clinic is hosted on the 4th Saturday of each month. Where else can kids get the shots they need, and check out a fire engine!?

We asked our colleagues at the Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition how Colorado's rates look now.  Stephanie Wasserman, Executive Director of the Coalition, was happy to respond.  "According to the latest data (2013), Colorado ranks 45th among U.S. states for childhood immunizations, with over 27.9 percent of children under-immunized at 36 months of age. Parents of children who are under-vaccinated face many barriers to immunization access such as cost, lack of a medical home, clinic location and hours, distance, transportation, language barriers, fear of the healthcare system, lack of insurance and lack of awareness regarding where to access services. The Shots for Tots and Teens program is important in combating these barriers and providing essential safety net services for families and children who lack financial or medical resources to access vaccines."

For more information:

Phone:  303.451.0123

Website:  https://www.childrensimmunization.org/what-we-do/free-and-low-cost-vaccines/shotsfortotsandteens.

Flyer:  We also have a flyer about the clinics available in English and Spanish that you can download here.