INCREASE IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS

(a) The department shall develop new public-private partnerships and work with existing public-private partnership programs, including the Seniors and Volunteers Program For Childhood Immunization, to increase public and private awareness of and support for early childhood immunizations. (b) The department shall work with the Texas Education Agency to increase immunization awareness and participation among parents of preschool and school-age children by: (1) jointly applying for federal funds for immunization awareness and vaccination programs; and (2) creating partnerships with public and private health, service, and education organizations, including parent-teacher associations, the United Way, schools, local businesses, community-based organizations, chambers of commerce, and athletic booster clubs, to increase awareness and participation in the state's early childhood vaccination program. (c) The department shall work to increase immunization awareness and participation among parents of children in child-care facilities, as defined by Section 42.002, Human Resources Code, in the state's early childhood vaccination program by publishing on the department's website information about the benefits of annual immunization against influenza for children aged six months to five years. The department shall work with the Department of Family and Protective Services and with child-care facilities to ensure that the information is annually distributed to parents in August or September.