Mobile Public Health Clinic Program

Last updated April 22, 2024.

Available languages: Español

Mobile Public Health Clinic Program informational webinar

Want to learn more about the Mobile Public Health Clinic Program? View a recording of an informational webinar about the program’s mission, scope, and capabilities, as well as the slides used for the presentation.

Colorado’s mobile public health clinics are hitting the road!

These mobile clinics provide low- and no-cost services to Coloradans of all ages. These include routine vaccines required for school and child care, as well as other recommended vaccines like flu, COVID-19, and mpox. The exact vaccines offered depend on the specific clinic.

The Mobile Public Health Clinic Program’s mission is to bridge gaps in access to disease control and public health services, and rapidly respond to emergent issues. Our emphasis is on serving low-income and underserved areas of the state. We primarily serve uninsured and underinsured Coloradans. Have health insurance? Find more vaccine provider options near you.

Now is a great time for you and your loved ones to get up to date with routine and recommended vaccines!

Upcoming clinics

Note: The Mobile Public Health Clinic Program receives the majority of its COVID-19 vaccines from the Vaccines for Children (VFC) and Bridge Access programs, which help close gaps in equitable vaccine access. Have health insurance? Find more COVID-19 vaccine provider options near you.

At this time, the clinics do not have high-dose flu vaccines specifically recommended for people aged 65 and older. People aged 65 and older can be vaccinated with a standard flu vaccine at a mobile public health clinic if they choose. Find high-dose flu vaccines for people aged 65 years and older.

 Sign up for an appointment.

Patient privacy

The Mobile Public Health Clinic Program values the privacy of patients and is committed to ensuring confidentiality. Learn more about patient privacy and how to submit requests regarding protected health information.

What to expect at your appointment

Registration

We recommend signing up for a clinic in advance. Making an appointment is easy, quick, and confidential. The registration form will ask for your name, address, birthday, and contact information to reserve your spot.

Though appointments are preferred, walk-ups are welcome while supplies last. Making an appointment helps with clinic scheduling and ensuring we have enough supplies and clinic personnel.

Screening 

When you sign up for your appointment or arrive at the clinic, you will be asked a few health questions. This will help staff make sure you get the right vaccines, and helps prevent rare allergic reactions to vaccines. If you’re not sure which vaccines you’re recommended to receive, clinic staff can help you find out during your appointment. Bringing your vaccination records to your appointment will help clinic staff know which vaccinations you need. A given clinic may not have all the vaccines you are recommended to receive on hand. Signing up for an appointment in advance increases the likelihood that the clinic will have the vaccines you need.

Vaccination 

Your vaccination will take place inside the mobile public health van, outside the van, or indoors, depending on where the clinic is happening. You may be asked to wait in a tent, your car, or another area for an observation period. If you are not feeling well after your vaccine, an on-site health professional will help you. 

You will receive a vaccine card that documents which vaccines you and/or your child received at your appointment. You can use this card to show proof of vaccination. Your confidential vaccine records will also be updated in the Colorado Immunization Information System.

Accessibility accommodations 

Accessibility accommodations are available at the mobile public health clinics and can be requested ahead of time during registration. These include communication and site-specific accommodations for people with sensory sensitivities, limited mobility, hearing impairments, visual impairments, and service animals. The van is set up for cognitive ease of access for all patients, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Patients with disabilities may choose to receive their vaccination in their vehicle. If you choose to receive your vaccine in your vehicle, a staff member will instruct you where to park. If you need assistance, just ask a staff member.

Language services

Interpretation services are available at the clinics for people who primarily speak languages other than English, including American Sign Language. These services may be provided in person, via video chat, or over the phone, depending on which language is requested. Vaccine information sheets, consent forms, and other printed materials are also available in multiple languages.

Reminders 

Remember to stay hydrated before and after your vaccination. Eat before your appointment or bring a snack with you. Also, feel free to bring a friend or family member.

If you have vaccine records, it will help our staff if you bring them to your appointment. If you have paper vaccine records that are not in the Colorado Immunization Information System already, bring them. Clinic staff can update your vaccine record.

Frequently asked questions

Which vaccines are required for school and child care in Colorado?

Colorado law (Board of Health rule 6 CCR 1009-2) requires all students attending Colorado schools and licensed child cares to be vaccinated against certain diseases, unless an exemption is filed. View the list of Colorado’s school-required vaccines. 

How do I know which vaccines I need?

CDC has detailed guides to routine vaccines for:

• Children aged birth through 6 years.
• Children aged 7 through 18 years. 
• Adults aged 19 years and older.
• Those who are pregnant.

To learn who is recommended to receive an mpox vaccine, visit CDPHE’s mpox vaccine webpage.

If you’re not sure which vaccines you’re recommended to receive, clinic staff at the mobile public health clinics can help you find out during your appointment. Bringing your vaccine records to the clinic is recommended to make sure you get the vaccine doses you need.

How do I find my vaccine records?

If you were previously vaccinated in Colorado, you can look up your records online in the Colorado Immunization Information System. Our clinic staff can also help you find your vaccine records at your appointment. Your immunization record in the system may not be complete, and you may need to contact your primary care provider or other vaccine provider to get vaccine records that are not available in the information system. 

If you were vaccinated outside of Colorado, contact your vaccine provider or the immunization information system of the state in which you received your vaccines to request a copy of your records.

Which health insurance plans do the clinics take?

The Mobile Public Health Clinic Program works with VaxCare to administer vaccine doses to insured patients. VaxCare accepts a wide variety of major insurance providers, though not all individual plans are accepted. Insured patients should call their insurance company ahead of time to ask if their plan covers vaccines administered by VaxCare.

Find a list of health insurance providers accepted by VaxCare.

Does it cost money to get vaccinated at a mobile public health clinic?

The Mobile Public Health Clinic Program itself does not charge any fees.

For people without health insurance, getting vaccinated at a mobile public health clinic is free.

In some cases, people with health insurance may receive a bill from VaxCare or their insurance company after their appointment. Your insurance company may bill you for a copay or for the cost of the vaccine if it is not covered by your plan. Call your insurance company before your appointment to ask about any costs associated with the vaccine you wish to receive.

Do the mobile clinics provide other health services?

At this time, the mobile clinics primarily offer vaccines. They will also provide testing services on an as-needed basis as determined by CDPHE’s epidemiology teams in response to disease outbreaks or other emergency needs. The vans cannot provide clinical services, such as screenings for hypertension, anemia, cancer, or diabetes; skin checks; health assessments; giving medication; or advanced emergency care.

I am a community organizer. How can I request a vaccine clinic in my community?

Organizations can request a community-based mobile vaccine clinic through the Health Equity Community Action & Engagement team by either contacting the Regional Coordinator who serves their county and/or any of the Disproportionately Affected Populations liaisons with whom their organization works.

You may also request a clinic by completing our online clinic request form. Our team will reach out to you within a few days for more information. Submitting a request does not guarantee a clinic. All clinic promotion should only occur after your clinic has been confirmed by CDPHE staff. The clinic request form is for organizations only. If you are not part of an organization, but are interested in having a mobile public health clinic in your community, contact your local public health agency.