Youths receive vaccinations at health fair

Local youths had the opportunity Tuesday to receive their COVID-19 vaccination and have a little fun, too. 
 
The COVID-19 Vaccinations and Health Fair was conducted from 4 to 6 p.m. at Christensen Field. Shawn Shanahan, the executive director of development and community health at Methodist Fremont Health, said the event was a success. 
 
“Everything is going good,” Shanahan said during the opening hour. “We’ve had over 40 people attend and we have the (Fremont Family) YMCA doing some testing on some kids. We’ve had over 21 kids get their vaccinations.” 
 
The event included free COVID-19 vaccinations for youths ages 12 to 18, but there were also games, prizes and other activities available. Families could also schedule back-to-school or sports physicals and meet the three newest members of the Methodist Physicians Clinic team: Dr. John Dobleman, Dr. Janae Dudgeon and Dr. Nathan Neuberger. 
 
Shanahan said it took a collaborative effort to make the event a success. 
 
“What we decided we would do was bring together partners in the community who have some kind of outcome of improving health in our community and/or health awareness,” she said. “The partners here are all about improving lives and health and/or bringing about some type of education and awareness to improve your health.”
 
  The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office was on hand with its seat belt simulator. Methodist Fremont Health provided games and talked about healthy life choices. Three Rivers Health Department provided the vaccinations and also had BMI testing available. 
 
Shanahan said the event organization came together fairly easily. She credits the Fremont community with playing a key role in that. 
 
“I feel that happens in Fremont as a whole when we’re talking about serving our community,” she said. “I feel like people always step up to the plate and ask what they can do. Really it was a simple reach out to the partners that serve our community in health.”