MEMPHIS, Tennessee – By 11 AM, a large crowd had packed Latino Memphis for free vaccine shots. This was the first of a series of events the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department organized to provide free immunization services for children of Shelby County and Memphis City.
According to Memphis and Shelby County Health Department, all children entering Memphis City, Shelby County as well as private schools are required to have documentation proving they are up to date on immunizations. In order to help parents get their children the vaccinations they need to go to school, the Immunization Program of the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department arranged three Saturdays from the end of July to mid August to provide free immunizations at four locations.
Latino Memphis (www.LatinoMemphis.org) is one of the locations for the first Saturday. The service was from 10 am to 2 pm.
"I came at 8 this morning to set it up," said Laura Zapata, a 17-year-old soon-to-be-senior at White Station High School. "We will work until 5 PM." Laura was one of many who volunteered at Latino Memphis. She and Ms. Zulema Biasi registered visitors at the front door.
This is the fourth year that Latino Memphis has hosted such events. "I estimate it will be around 400 children this time. The number is quite stable," said Jose A. Velazquez, CEO of Latino Memphis, "The Latino community has about 90,000 to 100,000 people in the Memphis area. We helped the Health Department to spread the words."
Mr. Octavio Valdovinos has only been in Memphis for six weeks. He brought his niece Rosen Robledo to the Latino Memphis for vaccinations before school registration. Rosen is 11 years old, from Honduras. She got two shots in her upper right arm. Still with tears in eyes, she was old enough to hold back her cry.
Eight-year-old Jennyfir Romero was brought in by her grandpa. A volunteer high school student helped them to translate English Spanish back and forth when a staff member from the health department was filling out a form for the girl. She began to weep even before Betty Robinson, a certified practical nurse from the health department, raised the needle. But it was only a short pain. After the shot, Betty gave her a gift bag with pencils and erasers to cheer her up. She soon forgot the pain and smiled.
Feeds