San Benito Schools Health Services Department celebrated the grand opening of the district’s first vaccine clinic, a milestone that brings vital healthcare services closer to home for our students and families 18 years of age or younge, uninsured or underinsured, with Medicaid or CHIPS. Appointments are required. Call 956-361-6280 or 956-361-6310 for more info. (Courtesy photo/SBCISD)
By TRINA “INDI” JOHNSON
Special to the NEWS
The San Benito CISD has opened its first-ever vaccine clinic, a step district leaders hope will reduce absences and keep students in classrooms. Located at the Landrum Education Complex, the clinic officially opened its doors with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, July 31.
The idea stemmed from a growing problem identified by school nurses and health aides during annual immunization checks.
More and more students were showing up without the vaccinations required by the state, forcing them to miss school until they became compliant. Health Services Coordinator Janette M. Bristow, RN, said the academic impact was too profound to ignore. “Over the past few years, we have noticed that more students have not received their required immunizations,” she said.
“Without their immunizations, students are not able to attend school. The loss of instructional time has the potential to be detrimental to our students, so we thought opening our vaccine clinic would be a solution to this concern.”
The clinic primarily serves San Benito CISD students, but it’s also open to anyone under the age of 18 who meets eligibility requirements. It offers all vaccines required for school entry, along with additional immunizations such as HPV, Meningitis B, and the flu shot during flu season. Bristow and a health aide will handle the day-to-day operations and vaccine administration. To keep things running smoothly, appointments are required, and a parent or guardian listed in the district’s system must accompany each student.
The clinic is operated in partnership with San Benito CISD Medical Director Dr. Syed Shah, Cameron County Public Health, and the Texas Vaccines for Children Program.
The Landrum Education Complex was chosen intentionally for its role as a districtwide support hub. Bristow explained that the site already houses the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Department Community Closet, the College and Career Community Computer Lab, and the PEIMS Department, which manages student enrollment. She said the addition of the clinic expands the support system already available to families across the district and complements the services already in place. “The new District Vaccine Clinic will further improve the support services available to the whole district,” she said.
Bristow emphasized that the clinic’s goal goes beyond compliance—it’s about improving overall wellness across the student body and reducing barriers to learning.
“I am very excited and hopeful that the vaccine clinic will be a place for our students to get all of their immunizations, which will allow them to be healthy and, in turn, create a healthier San Benito,” she said. “I think the vaccine clinic has the potential to impact school attendance significantly, and as I mentioned before, will keep our students in the classroom receiving instruction from our excellent educators.”
To make families aware of the new service, the district has launched an outreach effort through multiple channels. Posts have been shared on the district’s website and Facebook page, and campuses have also begun spreading the word. Flyers will be distributed during meet-the-teacher events, and immunizations will be offered at the district’s upcoming Back-to-School Celebration.
Bristow said the district is proud to bring this new resource to the community and hopes the public will take the opportunity to see it firsthand. “As a district, we are very excited to be able to provide this service to our students,” she said. “We invite the community to come by to see the clinic and ask questions.”
The grand opening is scheduled for Wednesday, July 31, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Landrum Education Complex, located at 450 S. Dick Dowling St. in San Benito.
Recent Comments