Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will offer a range of public health information and services at various locations during the Illinois State Fair, scheduled for August 8-18, 2024, in Springfield.

"The Illinois State Fair is one of my favorite annual celebrations," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. "I encourage all our residents to visit Springfield, if able, to enjoy the food, fun, and festivities. During your visit, please visit the IDPH main tent and our other locations. You will learn more about our programs, services, and all we do to keep Illinoisians safe and healthy."

The IDPH main tent will be situated on the east side of the Annex Building, directly across from the Lincoln Stage. Each day of the fair, IDPH staff will be available to answer questions and provide an array of information and services including:

- Oral Health: Educational information and interactive opportunities to learn about oral hygiene.

- Office of Women's Health and Family Services (OWHFS): Information about the IL Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP).

- Office of Racial and Cultural Health Equity (ORCHE): Educational materials on their office's activities and information about Rural Health scholarships.

- Emerging Health Issues: Educational materials on overdose injury including naloxone distribution; firearm injury prevention with gun lock distribution; suicide prevention information; and details about the 988 Suicide Hotline.

- Vital Records Division: Information on accessing birth and death records along with other important documents.

- Lead Exposure: Information on lead exposure risks and testing.

- Recruitment: Information about available positions at IDPH as well as diversity/equity/inclusion initiatives.

The IDPH main tent will also distribute giveaways such as sunscreen, cooling pouches, water bottles, hand sanitizer wipes, and COVID test kits while supplies last.

Additionally, IDPH will have a presence at Conservation World at the State Fair where they will provide information on preventing vector-borne diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks along with safe fish consumption guidelines from Illinois waterways.

IDPH is collaborating with external groups to offer back-to-school physicals and immunizations for children under age 18 during the fair. Mobile Care Chicago will have a unit outside the Illinois Building on Friday, August 9 from 10am-4pm and Saturday, August 10 from 9am-4pm. Fifth Street Renaissance in Springfield will also provide screenings and immunizations outside the Illinois Building on August 8 and from August 11-18.

Public service announcements promoting IDPH's services at the Illinois State Fair are available in both English and Spanish for radio stations to air between now and August 18, 2024. These can be downloaded from Public Service Announcements (illinois.gov).