Packed day set for annual Lil' Shots Carnival Friday

The 12th Annual Lil’ Shots Carnival is returning Friday from 9 a.m. to noon at 302 Fourth Ave. to provide back-to-school immunizations.

“This is just to add a little bit of fun to the back-to-school shots because shots are never fun,” Hill County Public Health Director Kim Larson said. “Nobody likes them, but they are necessary. This is a fun way for kids to come get their immunizations, up-to-date them, and the kids will also have a chance to enter their name for prizes.”

About 15 door prizes will be awarded, with names drawn once the event is over. The prizes will range from for teenagers to 1-year-olds.

The Lil’ Shots Carnival will also feature some basketball and football players coming from Havre Public Schools to play games with the kids, and will have snow cones, a fishing pond, face painting and more. Also, Havre Fire Department will bring fire trucks and ambulances, and U.S. Border Patrol, Montana Highway Patrol, Hill County Sheriff’s Office and Havre Police Department will bring in some of their vehicles to give the children a chance to look in them and get inside.

The carnival events are from 9 a.m. to noon, but the shots will be provided until 5 p.m.

Hill County Public Health Department is also partnering with the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana Carevan. If a family has insurance, the health department will bill the insurance for the shots, but if a family does not then Blue Cross will cover that bill. Blue Cross will also cover the co-pay or the deductible, if an insurance requires them.

This also will be the first time Hill County Health Department will have its public health van out, Larson said. The public health van is a mobile clinic room that will be available to be driven to different areas of Hill County for immunizations, family planning visits and possibly more. The health department received the van through an HIV grant.

Larson said the carnival is a good time for the children.

“It’s just a pretty fun day. The last few years it has been really hot, so the snow cones have been a huge hit,” Larson said.

People can call to make an immunization appointment at 400-2415.