Sanders County Public Health joined with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana this week to promote offer a convenient way for parents to get their kids vaccinated.

With school starting, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Care Van came to schools in Noxon, Trout Creek and Thompson Falls on Monday, then visited Plains and Hot Springs on Tuesday. Lisa Richmond and Karen Morey with Sanders County Public Health said they were focusing on vaccinations for kids starting school, as well as promoting the MT Teen Vax Challenge.

Richmond said the Care Van mobile clinic helps make vaccines more accessible for families. "We want to help keep kids healthy because we care," Morey added.

Kamille Kirchberg with Blue Cross Blue Shield said that they partner with health departments and providers all over Montana. The Care Van participates in 160 clinics a year and travels more than 20,000 miles a year. "We've been to 42 of 56 counties in Montana," Kirchberg said. She added that the objective is to help partners such as Sanders County Public Health get mobile. Blue Cross Blue Shield pays out-of-pocket costs for those who are uninsured or under-insured and they provide the van with medical-grade refrigeration to transport the vaccines.

Morey said that the more kids are vaccinated, it not only helps them, but it protects those who aren't vaccinated. Richmond added that some colleges are now requiring incoming students to have the MCV4 vaccine.

The Montana Teen Vax Challenge is a partnership between Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, the Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Montana Academy of Family Physicians and The Caring Foundation Montana's Care Van program. It encourages parents to get their kids vaccines including the Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis (Tdap), Meningococcal Conjugate (MCV4), Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Influenza. Each child age 11-17 will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card if they have received at least one of the vaccines.

For more information about the Care Van program, the Montana Teen Vax Challenge or vaccinations, contact Sanders County Public Health at 827-6931.