Shots clinic should reopen in city soon
By BENJAMIN SHARP news@leader-news.com

Wharton County's immunization clinics could reopen by next month - and this time around, they'll be offering more than just shots.

Fort Bend Family Health Clinic offi- cials said they plan as soon as possible to begin offering free inoculations in both El Campo and Wharton.

The Wharton site, 2407 N. Richmond Road, will also offer family planning.

That cannot be offered in El Campo, FBFHC officials said, since the Blessing Cup site does not have a private screening room.

"It doesn't lend itself to physical exams," said Carol Edwards, FBFHC's chief operations officer.

Edwards said Tuesday the clinic is "in the process of implementing the services." One hurdle that must first be cleared is the hiring of staff. Plans are to hire an LVN, a health aide and two office staff.

One staff member already hired is Ernie Ondrias. A nurse with Texas Children's Hospital, Ondrias has been an integral part of Wharton County's immunization efforts since the beginning.

Edwards said Ondrias will be uti- lized specifically for immunization fairs and other events. He had to obtain special credentials in order to work for FBFHC.

"This is such a passion of his and we wanted him to be able to continue," Edwards said.

Before reopening, the clinic must also have a Class D pharmacy license and a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act certificate. The CLIA is needed for family planning services since blood tests will be offered, Edwards said.

"We should be receiving both of those any day. It's one of those things you have to be patient about," she said.

Patience is something Wharton County Immunization Coalition members have had to have a lot of.

Since opening clinics in Wharton and El Campo in 2002, there has been a constant "see saw" between staying open and shutting down.

That's been a result of problems with standing orders. Provided by a physician, these orders allow the shots to be administered.

The University of Texas Medical Branch provided the initial standing orders, but later withdrew them due to staffing issues. The clinics were shut down.

Temporary orders were then obtained for a couple of immunization "fairs" held prior to the start of school, but longterm orders remained elusive. The clinics stayed closed for one and a half years.

This past January, they reopened, thanks to standing orders provided by the state health department. But the doors were again shut after the doctor who was writing those orders resigned.

The clinics have been shut down ever since.

A back-to-school fair was held back in August, and the turnout was substantial.

"We had so many we had to open on another date," said Marilyn Sebesta, a member of the Wharton County Immunization Coalition.

"There still is a big need and a lot of cooperation. Everybody's really working to help with the health needs of Wharton County."

The FBFHC's standing orders are issued by its own chief medical officer, who currently provided orders for two clinics in Fort Bend County and one in Waller County.

The clinic provides inoculations through the Texas Vaccine for Children Program and receives the vaccines from the state health department.

Inoculations will be provided free to children up to the age of 18. Family planning services will likely carry a charge, though there are several programs that can help with the cost.

Though subject to change, the clinic's tentative plans are to offer shots in Wharton on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and in El Campo on Tuesday and Thursday.

In Wharton, the FBFHC will initially operate out of the Central Appraisal District Building on Richmond Road, where it has offered services through the Women, Infants and Children program for decades.

Plans are to eventually relocate to the former Kleas hardware store on Milam Street.

"We haven't pinned down a timeline yet (for the move), but the county has approved it in the budget," said Betty Hill, director of FBFHC's WIC program.