NASHUA – The city of Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services is excited to celebrate Nashua Goes Back to School, an annual event that is scheduled for 5-6:30 p.m. on Aug. 26 at the Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St.

Nashua Public Health will participate in this year’s event to provide essential public health ser-vices, such as COVID-19 vaccines for people 12 years of age and older, child lead testing to children one to six years of age, and health education for families. In addition, Public Health Staff will be available onsite to register students for back to school immunizations at our clinic taking place the following day, Friday, Aug. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In preparation for this event, learn more about our services below.

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COVID-19 Vaccination

Together, our community has made tremendous progress in protecting ourselves and our loved ones from COVID-19. We all want to continue to experience the benefits of reduced community spread, such as seeing loved ones and safely getting kids back to school this fall. The vaccines are extremely effective and safe, and offer better protection than natural immunity, such as previously having COVID-19. The best way to keep us on the right track is for every eligible individual to get vaccinated.

During this event, Nashua Public Health Nurses will offer COVID-19 vaccines for people 12 years of age and older, because that is the age group currently authorized to receive a vaccine.

We will be offering the Pfizer and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccines. Anyone who receives the Pfizer vac-cine will be told how to receive their second dose. If you’ve been vaccinated and know neighbors, colleagues, or loved ones who are not, encourage them to get vaccinated to help protect them-selves and our community.

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Child Lead Testing

All children are at risk for lead poisoning. High levels of lead in the body can harm the brain, dam-age speech and hearing, and result in learning and behavior problems. The most common source of lead poisoning is lead paint in older homes, resulting in dangerous lead chips and dust. Children in Greater Nashua are at particular risk since over 50% of the homes were built before lead paint was banned in 1978. Lead can also be found in work clothes, tap water, toys, and spices.

Many parents may be unaware of potential lead exposures in their homes, which is why blood lead level (BLL) testing is important. New Hampshire is a universal testing state requiring all health care providers to test children for lead at ages one and two. In addition, BLL testing is recommended for children aged three to six who have not been previously tested or are at high risk. If a child’s BLL is over the actionable BLL, 5 mcg/dl, the State will perform a home inspection to identify lead haz-ards, and the child will enter lead case management, including a home visit by a public health nurse. Lead testing is simple, quick, and covered by insurance. If you do not have insurance, Nashua Public Health will test your child for free.

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Back to School Immunizations

Parents are encourage to protect their children against vaccine-preventable diseases. Following the recommended vaccine schedule provides your child with the best protection from potentially se-rious diseases. COVID-19 has disrupted both in-person learning and routine healthcare visits for many children. As a result, too many children have fallen behind on receiving recommended vac-cines over the past year.

As a community, we want our kids to be back in school safely, and that means catching up on vac-cines that may have been missed. Call your child’s healthcare provider or visit a Nashua Public Health clinic to get your child vaccinated. Nashua Public Health offers the following clinics, regis-tration can be found on our website.

• Tuesdays from 4-7 p.m. (Nashua Public Health – 18 Mulberry St., Nashua)

• Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon (Nashua Public Health – 18 Mulberry St., Nashua)

• Wednesday, Aug. 11 from 1-3 p.m. (Merrimack High School – 38 McElwain St., Merri-mack)

• Thursday, Aug. 19 from 3-6 p.m. (Nashua High School North – 8 Titan Way, Nashua)

• Friday, Aug. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Nashua Public Health – 18 Mulberry St., Nashua)

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Healthy Eating

Good nutrition is essential to keep current and future generations healthy across the lifespan. As children develop, they require healthy and nutritious foods, along with vitamins and minerals to support their growing bodies. School-aged children require variety when it comes to foods, be-cause many food habits, likes, and dislikes are set during this time. For information and resources on establishing and maintaining healthy eating habits, visit https://www.myplate.gov/.

For additional information about the Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services, vis-it our website at https://nashuanh.gov/497/Public-Health-Community-Services or call us at 603-589-4500.