Marion County health fair set for Saturday
Staff writer
This year’s Marion County Health Fair will offer entertainment for children, prizes, flu shots, and low-priced health tests.
Regular flu shots, available through the health department, will cost $40. Flublock vaccine, for people 50 to 64, will be $76. High dose flu shots, for people 65 and older, will cost $79. The health department will bill most insurance companies but will take cash and checks.
A limited number of uninsured adults will be able to get free regular dose flu shots.
Diedre Serene, health department administrator, said production delays have happened this year, causing slower arrival of vaccine for the department
“Our first shipment, we got 25% of what we ordered,” Serene said. “Our second shipment, we got 25% of what we ordered.”
Serene said she expected the rest of the health department’s flu vaccine order to arrive before the health fair. Additionally, the department has more flu vaccine on order.
Spiderman and Rosie the Skunk will visit with kids.
Safe Kids will give away free water bottles, and kids can go on a scavenger hunt.
“We’re adding a scavenger hunt this year for children ages 12 and under,” said Jessica Gilbert of the Marion County Health Department. “There’ll be fun facts to discover and delightful prizes along the way.”
Every child will go home with a certificate for ice cream from either Sonic or Wendy’s in Hillsboro, Gilbert said.
Fred the Preparedness Dog will be at this year’s fair. Fred, a living dog instead of someone in costume, can be petted by the children.
Both Hillsboro Community Hospital and St. Luke Hospital will perform laboratory tests for a reduced price.
Four tests — comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel, complete blood count with differentials, and thyroid stimulating hormone test — will be available for $25.
- A comprehensive metabolic panel tests metabolism, including kidneys, liver, electrolyte and acid/base balance, glucose, and blood protein levels. It is used to monitor hypertension and other medical conditions and check for side effects of medications.
- The Lipid panel test checks total cholesterol levels, including high-density and low-density lipoproteins, cholesterol, and triglycerides. The test reveals risks for heart disease.
- The complete blood count with differentials checks levels of red blood cells, platelets, white blood cells, hematocrit, and hemoglobin. It screens for anemia and can detect infections.
- The thyroid-stimulating hormone test screens for overactive or underactive thyroid.
For an additional $10 each, visitors can get HbgA1c tests to measure average glucose levels over the last three months, and a PSA test to screen for prostate cancer.
Carotid ultrasound screenings will be provided by Hillsboro Community Hospital at no cost.
Health care providers will be at the fair to provide information about their services.
“We are pleased to have more than 30 exhibitors at the sixth annual Marion County Health Fair,” said Roger Schroeder, marketing director for St. Luke Hospital. “Exhibitors represent many facets of the health care industry — from hospitals, to home health, dentists, to therapists, emergency services, to weight loss specialists.”
Prize drawings will be held every 30 minutes starting at 8:30 a.m. Prizes will include weather radios, a massage certificate from Carol Wituk, electric toothbrush, gift baskets, a Pak N Play, and edible treats from Marion and Hillsboro businesses.
The fair will be 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday at USD 408 Sports and Aquatic Center, 104 N. Thorp, Marion.
Visitors are encouraged to bring a toy to donate to Marion County Toy Run.
Last modified Oct. 31, 2019