Clinic at Norton Children’s Infectious Diseases provides recommendations for patients who have complex immunization situations and counseling for families who are hesitant to vaccinate.

Published: February 28, 2022

Norton Children’s Infectious Diseases, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, has opened a new clinic that will serve the pediatric community by addressing a wide variety of vaccination needs, including special immunization circumstances, catch-up, evaluation for contraindications and precautions, and vaccine hesitancy.

The referral-based clinic will have a Vaccines for Children (VFC) designation. VFC is a federally-funded program that aims to limit diseases by improving children’s access to lifesaving vaccinations.

Services offered at the clinic

In addition to administering vaccines, the clinic’s providers can answer questions about immunizations, including COVID-19 vaccination, and provide counseling for patients with special vaccination circumstances.

“Patients and families can have their questions addressed by infectious disease physicians who specialize in vaccines and have expertise in addressing hesitancy,” said Gary S. Marshall, M.D., pediatric infectious disease specialist with Norton Children’s Infectious Diseases. “The clinic’s referral-based model allows providers to work as a team to holistically address the patient’s needs.”

When to refer a patient

Patient access to the clinic is by provider referral only. Providers may refer patients who meet any of the following criteria:

• Patients with complex medical conditions (e.g., neurodevelopmental disorders, metabolic disorders, technology dependence, chronic lung disease, etc.) in which certain vaccines may be problematic and special vaccines may be indicated
• Patients who need a comprehensive plan for catch-up vaccination
• Immunocompromised patients, including those who are post-transplant, in whom certain vaccines may be problematic and special vaccines may be indicated
• Refugee and internationally-adopted patients whose immunization history needs to be assessed and who may need catch-up or repeat immunization
• Patients whose families exhibit vaccine hesitancy or refusal
• Parents who want specific counseling regarding COVID-19 vaccination

The vaccine clinic is located inside Norton Children’s Infectious Diseases, on the first floor of the Novak Center for Children’s Health. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Same-day appointments may be available.