Modesto City Schools has launched a new Vaccine for Children (VFC) clinic to ensure families have easy, no-cost access to required childhood immunizations, especially during times that work for working parents. As one of the only school districts in the Central Valley operating an official VFC site, MCS opened the clinic to remove barriers families often face, including long waits, limited availability, and clinics that close before many parents finish work. This makes Modesto City Schools one of the few districts in the region offering this level of direct health access on campus.
“We heard loud and clear that families needed later hours,” said Health Services Director Tom Nipper. “Most clinics in town close earlier in the day, so parents were struggling to get their children vaccinated. If we want students to start school healthy and stay on track, we have to offer services when families can use them.”
The clinic, located at 1581 Cummins Drive, Suite B, stays open until 6:30 p.m. on scheduled clinic days, offering one of the latest pediatric immunization options in the region. Staff Secretary Jacqueline Boutsikakis, who was instrumental in launching the clinic, supports families as they arrive, many of whom come straight from work.
“Families come in after long days at work, and our goal is to make the experience as easy and welcoming as possible,” Boutsikakis said. “For many of our parents, the later hours are the only time they can come, and being here to support them, in English or Spanish, means more students can get what they need to start school healthy.”
To help families get accurate information and avoid unnecessary vaccines, clinic staff review each child’s records in the state immunization database, which is often more current than school records. Bilingual Spanish support is available at every clinic, and services are open to all community members—not just MCS families. The clinic operates in partnership with St. Luke’s Family Practice, a nonprofit community provider known for delivering free and low-cost medical care to underserved families.
The clinic provides free vaccines for children under 19 who are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, or underinsured, including DTaP, Polio, MMR, Varicella, HPV, Hepatitis B, flu, and COVID.
There will be two all-day clinics on January 5 and 6, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., to support families preparing for TK/Kinder registration and the start of a new semester after winter break—times when many parents are updating records and ensuring their children are ready for school. Additional January clinics will be held on January 12, January 22, and January 26 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. More clinic dates are being added for February, March, and April.
Families are encouraged to make an appointment by calling 209-574-1605. Walk-ins are welcome as space allows.
📍 Location: 1581 Cummins Dr., Suite B
💉 Cost: No-cost through the federal VFC program
👧🏽 Who: Children and teens under 19
🌐 Appointments encouraged: 209-574-1605 | MyTurn.ca.gov
📄 Bring: Any vaccine records you have for your child
