TOMAGWA Health Care Ministries in Tomball is well known for offering a multitude of low-cost services to area residents, but perhaps the most important thing the clinic does is prevent local youth from becoming ill in the first place.

With the start of the 2010-11 school year less than a week away, TOMAGWA held the first of its two immunization clinics Aug. 12 at their facility, located at 455 School Street.

According to TOMAGWA Development Associate Kelly Hamann, the clinic was expected to provide more than 100 local youth with up to four shots each so that they may be eligible to attend school this year.

Pictured, Alex Edwards, 7, receives two vaccination shots from volunteer nurse Tessa Benson (left) and another TOMAGWA nurse during the clinic’s immunization clinic Aug. 12.

Photo by Holly Dutton

Hamann said by the time the TOMAGWA staff opened the doors to the clinic at 8 a.m., there was a line of people “a block long” waiting to sign up.

The large waiting room at TOMAGWA, as well as the small room that serves as the facility’s chapel, was quickly filled with local parents with nervous children.

Helping deal with the influx of patients were several volunteers from the Cypress Woodlands Junior Forum, who were mostly in charge of checking and double-checking paperwork and ensuring that each child brought their immunization records.

Hamann said the biggest challenge during such clinics is families who do not bring a complete immunization record. With TOMAGWA offering 10 vaccinations, it is essential for the clinic’s staff to know what shots a child has had and which ones they need.

TOMAGWA offers vaccinations against Hepatitis B; Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis; Haemophilius Influenza B; Inactivated Polio; Measles, Mumps and Rubella; Varicella Chickenpox; Meningococcal; Phemococcal Conjugate; Hepatitis A and Rotovirus.

The supplies and vaccinations are often donated to TOMAGWA and the clinic is mostly staffed by volunteer nurses and doctors. Hamann added that the clinic also utilizes the help of Lone Star College-Tomball nursing students who may be looking to gain valuable hands-on clinical experience.

While the cost for immunizations is $10, Hamann said some families can afford to pay, while others cannot and the clinic is a good opportunity for families who may not be able to afford typical clinic visits.

“Some people are prepared to pay, some aren’t,” she said. “If you’re unable to pay, this is a good event to come to.”

In fact, immunizations given on Aug. 19 will be free of charge.

While it’s unclear exactly how many patients TOMAGWA will see this year during its shot clinic, it’s highly likely it will be a significant increase of past years with the clinic recently moving into its few facility on School Street.

In 2009, TOMAGWA provided 3,846 immunizations to 1,453 children in the 460-square mile coverage area, which includes southwest Montgomery, southeast Waller and northwest Harris Counties.

For more information, visit tomagwa.org or call 281-351-1747.

TOMAGWA will hold another clinic on Aug. 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children seeking immunizations must be 18 or younger and have a parent or legal guardian present who is aware of the child’s allergies and health history.

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