July 23, 2001

The Houston Department of Health and Human Services will provide vaccinations to children heading off to school at four local shopping malls weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., August 6-24.

The malls and their addresses are:

• Northwest Mall, 9800 Hempstead Highway
• Northline Mall, 4400 North Freeway
• Sharpstown Center, 7500 Bellaire Boulevard
• Almeda Mall, 12200 Gulf Freeway

Vaccines most frequently needed by children before going to school are a combined shot for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) and another for measles, mumps and rubella. Children are unable to complete the school registration process until they have met all immunization requirements. Parents should bring their children's immunization records to the vaccination site.

Shots cost $3 per child.

The department's health centers and regular Monday through Friday mobile sites will be closed for school shots August 6 through August 24. Regular Saturday sites will be open.

For more information, call the department's Immunization Bureau at 713-794-9267.