Free health fair to be held at Goshen High School June 22

GOSHEN, Ind. -- On Tuesday morning, the Northern Indiana Hispanic Health Coalition (NIHHC), the Indiana Department of Health, and Goshen Community Schools announced a back-to-school health fair on June 22 with services to help keep the whole family healthy during the coming school year.

The free fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Goshen High School and is open to all members of the public.

Services offered:

• All required and recommended vaccines for children ages 5 and up and adults, including:
• Dtap (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), Kinrix (Dtap & IPV), Hep A, Hep B, Polio, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Meningitis (ACYW & B), Varicella, Pneumonia (PCV20), and COVID-19
• Health screenings (cholesterol, glucose, A1C, blood pressure, BMI), with results provided immediately
• Registration for a free mammogram and pap smear for women who qualify for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP)
• School supplies for children who are present
• Tacos for all attendees who receive at least one service

Organizers say a family of four who receives services will get a $50 gas card. 

"NIHHC welcomes all families to catch up on routine immunizations and health screenings," said NIHHC's Kumud Krishna. "Kindergartener routine vaccination coverage in the U.S. is still lower than pre-pandemic levels at 93 percent, and the child vaccination rate for all children in Elkhart County in the last school year was just 75 percent."

For vaccines, an ID of any kind is required, and attendees should bring their vaccination records if available.'

Those who plan to attend are encouraged to register for their appointments to get vaccinations by calling 1-877-21-SALUD (72583) or by sending a WhatsApp message to NIHHC’s health hotline at (574) 206-3938.

“The next school year will be here before we know it, and there is limited time to get up to date,” said NIHHC Executive Director, Liliana Quintero. “This is a great opportunity to help our kids get a healthy start to a new school year and take care of our most important asset—our health!”

Organizers say preventative measures like vaccines and screenings are vital to creating a healthy community that includes students, families, teachers, and school staff. Community members will also receive assistance on understanding vaccination schedules and education on their health screening results, so they can make informed decisions about their next steps and take charge of their health.

"NIHHC’s health fairs provide a holistic approach to health with accessible, convenient, bilingual, and culturally competent services to meet the unique needs of those facing barriers to healthcare," Krishna said. "NIHHC reaches the community by partnering with trusted influencers and messengers, leaders, health care providers, and community organizations and agencies."