WXYZ-TV, Channel 7 Provides Free Back-to-School Immunizations With "Healthy Living for Kids"

SOUTHFIELD Mich., Aug. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- WXYZ-TV and the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion, along with DTE Energy & The Word Network, will give thousands of Detroit area children a "boost" at the 34th annual "Healthy Living for Kids" Immunization Fair. The program will be held Sunday, August 28th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

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The vaccinations are especially important this year because of new school requirements for students. According to Rebecca Thomas, Program Administrative Assistant for Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion, students must have a completed series of vaccinations or they will not be allowed to attend school. "This event is an opportunity to get your children's immunizations without a wait or appointment before they go back to school," said Thomas.

Eligible children 3 months and older will be given free immunizations against polio, rubella, measles, mumps, tetanus, varicella (chicken pox), diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), Hepatitis B and HIB (Haemophilus influenza type B), MCV4 Meningitis, Hep A, PCV 13 (Pneumonia), and HPV (Gardasil). Registered nurses from the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion will administer the shots with the assistance of over 150 volunteers from the Health Department and WXYZ-TV Channel 7.  

"WXYZ is proud to join our partners in the community to provide this important service for Detroit students," said WXYZ-TV Vice-President and General Manager Ed Fernandez.  "Since the project began in 1977, more than 50,000 children have received vaccinations."

Additional services provided include free lead poisoning testing, sign-ups for WIC (Woman, Infant, and Children's) feeding program, enrollment for insurance and a wide variety of youth mentoring programs.  This year, the popular "Children's Village," will feature a variety of health services, community outreach programs and entertainment.  AAA, the Detroit Public Library Bookmobile, Detroit Public Schools, The Detroit Science Center, Smile Programs...the mobile dentists, are some of the organizations that will be on hand.

WXYZ Action News on-air personalities will sign autographs and greet children and their families.  There will be giveaways plus backpacks provided courtesy of WXYZ and DTE Energy.   School supplies courtesy of DTE Energy will be handed out while supplies last.  

Detroit Lions mascot "Roary" and Detroit Tigers mascot "Paws" will stop by and greet guests.  Complimentary pizza will be served along with bottled water courtesy of Absopure and Costco, chips courtesy of Uncle Rays, and ice cream courtesy of Par's.  

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is located in the heart of Detroit's Cultural Center, at 315 East Warren Avenue.  Information is available online at www.wxyz.com.

WXYZ-TV, Action News, is part of Scripps Media Inc., which operates 10 TV stations (six ABC affiliates, three NBC affiliates and one independent). The corporate parent, The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) is a diverse, 131-year-old media enterprise with interests in television stations, newspapers, local news and information Web sites, and comics/features syndication. For a full listing of Scripps media companies and their associated Web sites, visit http://www.scripps.com/.

SOURCE WXYZ-TV

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