A Vaccination Festival : Clowns, Disney Characters Help Ease Pain at Kids Care Fair

SANTA ANA — Kids don’t enjoy getting vaccinations.

But the eighth annual Kids Care Fair at three Orange County sites Saturday did everything possible to ease the pain for hundreds of children--and their parents.

In addition to getting vaccinations, children could meet Disney characters, create arts and crafts and mingle with clowns. Parents appreciated the fact that the event was free, and in a festive setting.

“I did full disclosure and told [my daughter] a shot was involved, so she was anxious,” said Huntington Beach resident Leigh Mitchell, 39.

Mitchell herself even took advantage of an on-site scale to see how her diet was coming along, and shared the good news that she had lost 4 pounds.

Kids Care Fair is a collaborative effort of local medical centers, businesses and the American Red Cross. The fair is held in August to provide the vaccinations that children need to enter school in the fall.

Case manager Rudy Hernandez said 72 children were immunized Saturday at the Corbin Community Center in Santa Ana.

Judy Iannaccone, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross, said organizers did not set attendance goals but estimated that more than 500 children combined showed up at this health fair and those in San Clemente and Fullerton.

Throughout most of the day, a steady stream of people filled the halls of the Santa Ana community center. The social hall was converted into a one-stop health center with tables dispensing information and exams.

Outside, music from a four-piece band, La Batalla, blared through speakers courtesy of a local radio station.

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Employing a bit of psychology, the staff administered vaccinations in a somewhat isolated, side conference room. If children started crying, explained Corbin coordinator Pearl Raya, they would not begin a chain reaction with the rest.

The vaccinations included shots to fight off polio, tetanus and measles.

Goofy and Minnie Mouse were on loan from the Magic Kingdom to help ease the vaccination pain, explained Disney coordinator Patty Noson. “If the kids see us here,” she said, “then they know it’s something good and they don’t need to be afraid.”

In addition to vaccinations, eye and dental exams also were available.

Alisa Takeuchi, 27, learned that her 6-year-old niece, Briana Acosta, might be nearsighted. However, Briana was more interested in the bracelet she was taking home.

In the Corbin Center’s patio area, tables were set up to teach children about nutrition and to sign them up for the Girl Scouts.

Police also had set up a station to fingerprint children so that parents may have a record in case they ever need to file a missing person’s report.

Despite all the goings-on, 5-year-old Katelyn Mitchell remained unconvinced that it was only a festival. After getting a shot in each thigh, she firmly shook her head when asked if she wanted another.