Childhood Immunizations in Hilo & Across Hawaiʻi — Medicaid (QUEST) Accepted

Childhood immunizations are the vaccines recommended from birth through the teen years to protect children from serious, sometimes life-threatening infectious diseases. They are among the safest and most effective tools in medicine, and they protect not only your child but the whole community. At Ohana Care Clinic in Hilo, we keep your keiki on schedule using the CDC and AAP recommendations.

Why childhood vaccines matter

Vaccines train a child’s immune system to recognize and fight specific germs before they ever cause illness. Diseases that once seriously harmed or killed many children, such as measles, whooping cough, and meningitis, are now preventable. When most children in a community are vaccinated, it also protects babies too young to be immunized and children who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. This shared protection is part of caring for our whole ʻohana and community.

The recommended schedule

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with the American Academy of Pediatrics, publishes a childhood and adolescent immunization schedule that spaces vaccines to give protection when children need it most. It covers vaccines given in infancy and early childhood, plus the boosters and new vaccines recommended in the school-age and teen years. If your child has fallen behind, a catch-up schedule lets us get them back on track without starting over.

How we partner with you

We know parents often have questions about vaccines, and we welcome them. We will walk through what each vaccine protects against, what to expect, and how we keep visits as comfortable as possible for your child. We follow the current CDC and AAP schedule rather than memory, since it updates each year, and we keep careful track of where your child stands.

Culturally grounded care

We care for the whole child, in the spirit of lōkahi — balance and harmony among the connected parts of life: the body, the mind and emotions, the spirit, the ʻohana (family), and our relationship with the ʻāina (land) and community. In a Native Hawaiian understanding of health, these are not separate, and neither is our care. To mālama (care for and protect) your keiki and to raise them pono (in balance and rightness), we listen to your family’s story, welcome your ʻohana into every visit, and honor the values and traditions that ground you. Offering kōkua (help given freely, with aloha) in a way that respects your family is at the heart of how we practice.

Insurance and how we see your keiki

We accept Medicare and Medicaid, including the Hawaiʻi QUEST Integration plans (AlohaCare, the Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA), ʻOhana Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), along with most commercial insurance, and we are accepting new pediatric patients in Hilo. Your child’s first primary-care visit is in person at our Hilo clinic. We see children in person for well-child exams, vaccines, and hands-on care, and we use telehealth for follow-ups and questions. Pediatric behavioral health with our mental-health providers can begin by video; care from our primary-care team starts with an in-office visit.

Common questions about childhood immunizations

What vaccines does my child need and when?

Children receive a series of vaccines from birth through the teen years following the CDC and AAP schedule, with many given in the first two years and boosters plus new vaccines in the school-age and teen years. We track your child’s schedule and tell you what is due.

Are childhood vaccines safe?

Yes. Vaccines are among the most studied and safest tools in medicine. Serious side effects are very rare, while the diseases they prevent can be severe. We are glad to answer any questions you have.

My child missed some vaccines. Is it too late?

No. A catch-up schedule lets us get your child back on track without restarting the series, no matter how much time has passed. We will make a simple plan to catch up.

What insurance do you accept for pediatric care?

We accept Medicare and Medicaid, including the Hawaii QUEST Integration plans (AlohaCare, HMSA, Ohana Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), along with most commercial insurance. We are accepting new pediatric patients in Hilo.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Child and adolescent immunization schedule by age. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/child-adolescent-age.html

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. (2025). Recommended immunization schedule for children and adolescents aged 18 years or younger — United States, 2025. MMWR, 74(2). https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7402a2.htm

Papa Ola Lōkahi. (n.d.). Native Hawaiian health. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://www.papaolalokahi.org/

This page is general health education from Ohana Care Clinic, reviewed by Donna Leonard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, and written by George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP. It is not a substitute for a personal evaluation by a qualified clinician who knows your child’s situation, and reading it does not create a provider–patient relationship. If you are worried about your child’s health, reach out to us or another licensed provider. In an emergency, call 911.

Donna Leonard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, and George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP — President & Owner