Frequently Asked Questions

Individuals 19 years of age and older, who do not have health insurance. Those with medical insurance, including Medicare or Medicaid are not eligible to receive ASN vaccines.

Patients who are 19 years of age and who previously initiated a vaccination series under the TVFC program but have not completed the series may complete the series using ASN program vaccines regardless of their current health insurance status. The vaccine must be administered at a DSHS Public Health Region or Local Health Department clinic. This provision only applies to patients who have not yet reached their 20th birthday.

Find an ASN program provider

No, qualifying patients do not need to sign up or enroll for the ASN Program to receive ASN vaccines. Simply, contact an ASN provider in your area.

Call the ASN program provider you intend to visit for additional preparations and paperwork. We advise the patient to ask if appointments are needed for immunization visits.

Eligible patients may be charged an administration fee of up to $25.00 per vaccine. If you are unable to pay the fee, notify the provider, and you will not be denied vaccination.

To request your vaccination record or your child's you will need to complete the appropriate form, listed below, and return to your health care provider, your local health department or you may email your request to immtrac2@dshs.texas.gov

• The American Academy of Pediatrics supports public and private cooperation in developing an immunization registry when it benefits children.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says a state-based immunization information system is essential for reaching and sustaining coverage levels and recommends vaccination providers participate in these systems whenever possible.
• The immunization schedule is confusing to parents. A registry helps to keep parents informed about when their children need vaccines.
• Because parents can’t locate vaccine records and many children are over-immunized.
• The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) may be able to identify areas in Texas with low vaccination rates and focus outreach activities in those communities.

• ImmTrac2 allows providers to search for immunization histories on new patients who have changed physicians or moved into a new community.
• ImmTrac2 assists with lost or difficult-to-interpret records.
• ImmTrac2 sends reminder and recall notices of pending or overdue immunizations.

ImmTrac2 consent forms are in Forms and Documents. You can prepopulate and print new consent forms directly in the ImmTrac2 system.

Registered ImmTrac2 users may use their existing supply of consent forms before ordering new ones.

To register as an authorized ImmTrac2 organization, download the documents from Forms and Documents. Find webinars and PowerPoint presentations in Health Care Providers Training.

• ImmTrac2 Provider Online Enrollment Manual (PDF)
  Information about registration for new ImmTrac2 users and the renewal process for existing users.
   
• ImmTrac2 Implementation Guide for Immunization Messaging: HL7 Version 2.5.1 (PDF) 
  Provides specifications, standards, and examples for creating HL7 2.5.1 messages for data submissions for ImmTrac2. ImmTrac2 users should share the implementation guide with their EHR vendors.
   
• ImmTrac2 User Manual (PDF)
  Provides in-depth information and step-by-step instructions on using the registry. Includes updating a client’s immunization history, affirming consent, and running and printing a variety of reports.
   
• ImmTrac2 Webinars and PowerPoint Presentations are found in Health Care Providers Training
  ImmTrac2 system overview and specific webinars for viewing, adding, updating, and other functions involving clients and immunizations.

If authorized, providers and payors who electronically import immunization data into ImmTrac2 must comply with the ImmTrac Electronic Transfer Standards (ETS) - PDF. Providers submitting HL7-formatted immunization (VXU) messages to ImmTrac2 must do so via certified HER technology. Visit CMS.gov for more information.  

You can submit immunization data to ImmTrac2 various ways:

• Submit files ImmTrac2 via encrypted File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
• Medicaid and CHIP submit client data to HHSC electronically via the ImmTrac2 HHSC Interface.
• Health plans can submit data for multiple clients via secure download or encrypted FTP.
• Single client searching and generation of immunization histories are available to payors online via the ImmTrac2 web application.

Yes, ImmTrac2 supports eligible hospitals (EHs), eligible providers (EPs), and critical access hospitals (CAHs) participating in the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) EHR Incentive Program.

Eligible participants wishing to exchange data with ImmTrac2 must first complete an ImmTrac2 Site Agreement and then submit a Registration of Intent to pursue Meaningful Use with the registry. 

For more information, please contact ImmTracMU@dshs.texas.gov.

The Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) electronic reporting process remains the same. Providers can continue to import files via the secure SFTP using their organization’s assigned FTP login credentials.

In addition to HL7 Version 2.5.1, ImmTrac2 accepts file messaging using HL7 versions 2.3.1 and 2.4. ImmTrac2 accepts flat file messaging.

DSHS encourages new users to comply with HL7 file messaging using HL7 versions 2.3.1 and 2.4. 

Find a TVFC provider in your area. 

Vaccines are free from authorized TVFC providers. Patients may be charged up to  $14.85 as an administrative fee. However, no child is to be denied vaccination due to parents/guardian's ability to pay. 

Immigration nor residency status prevents participation in the vaccines for children program.