Long Beach’s Department of Health and Human Services will host Superheroes Shield Up for School on Aug. 11 at the Main Health Facility (2525 Grand Ave.) from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The superhero-themed event will help families prepare for the new school year with school-required vaccinations, connections to community resources and family-friendly activities.
Children and teens ages 18 and younger who are uninsured, enrolled in Medi-Cal or identify as American Indian or Alaska Native are eligible to receive school-required vaccinations at the event.
The event will offer all vaccines required for school enrollment, including Tdap boosters for students entering seventh grade, free of charge.
California law requires students entering transitional kindergarten, kindergarten and seventh grade to meet specific immunization requirements before attending school.
The Health Department’s Sensory Area For Everyone (S.A.F.E.) vehicle will be available on-site, providing a quiet, inclusive vaccination space for kids with sensory needs.
“Childhood vaccinations play a critical role in keeping our community healthy,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a public statement. “This free event helps students prepare for a return to school while providing families with valuable health resources.”
The event will also feature free food, back-to-school giveaways, games, superhero-themed activities and opportunity prize drawings for children who receive a vaccine. Families are encouraged to attend dressed as their favorite superheroes.
“Just as superheroes help keep their communities safe, vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to protect children from serious diseases,” Acting Health Officer Dr. Cliff Okada said in a public statement. “Vaccines help students stay healthy, reduce missed school days and safeguard those who cannot be vaccinated. Every shot is a small act of heroism that brings us one step closer to building a healthier, stronger Long Beach.”
Last year, the Health Department administered nearly 200 doses of required vaccines at back-to-school clinics, helping families meet California’s immunization requirements before the school year began.
Vaccine appointments are recommended and can be scheduled through MyTurn in English and Spanish. Walk-ins will also be accommodated. Families are encouraged to bring their child’s immunization record.
For more information about the Superheroes Shield Up for School event and other immunization resources, visit longbeach.gov/immunizations. Future community vaccination clinic dates will also be posted on this site.
