The City of Milwaukee Health Department is gearing up for its 23rd annual Back to School Health Fair on Saturday, Aug. 10. The event’s goal is to vaccinate 1,000 children, says MHD Communications Officer Caroline Reinwald.
The fair is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Aug. 10 at the Milwaukee Academy of Science (2000 W. Kilbourn Ave.). Along with free immunizations, the department will also be giving out free school supplies and food, and hosting activities for families. Shots are reserved for kids who are uninsured or publicly insured (Medicaid or BadgerCare), and adults who are uninsured or underinsured. Parents or guardians must be present or reachable by phone during vaccinations.
Removing financial barriers makes healthcare and academic readiness more accessible for Milwaukee children and families, says MHD Infectious Disease Program Lead Lindsey Page. For over two decades, the fair has been a community entry point for the health department.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
This is the first year the event will be held on a Saturday. In previous years, an average of 250 immunizations and 2,000 backpacks were given away, but the department has set the much loftier 1,000 immunizations goal, hoping for higher traffic on a weekend.
Last school year, 75% of children in Milwaukee Public Schools met the minimum vaccination requirements. Page says this is a lower number than in previous years.
“This is a concerning trend, as communities need high vaccination rates to maintain herd immunity and prevent outbreaks,” Page said. “The more children who are vaccinated, the more protected an entire school, and an entire community, is.”
Attendees can grab a bite to eat free of charge from vendors like Pete’s Pops, KT’s Wok, Twisted Plants and I’ll Take a Bite of That. Roller skating and field games by Milwaukee County Parks and Recreation, chalk art by Marina Lee featuring an interactive mandala mural, face painting and glitter tattoos by Diana’s Snazzy Face Painting, and police and fire vehicles will distract from pre-shot nerves.
All families going to the fair will also be entered to win giveaways for the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Milwaukee County Zoo, the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum and a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game.
Beyond getting all their necessary shots, Page encourages Milwaukee families to ensure their children are eating well and getting adequate sleep and plenty of physical activity. Staying home when sick and proper cough and hand washing etiquette are also important.
School-required and CDC-recommended vaccines given will include:
- TdaP
- DTap
- Polio
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hib
- HPV
- MMR
- Varicella (chickenpox)
- Meningococcal
- Pneumococcal
- COVID-19
