Participants in the India Day Parade marched through Hicksville Sunday afternoon to celebrate 75 years of India's independence from British rule.

In addition to celebrating India's culture, organizers used the parade as a way to promote getting a COVID-19 vaccine as new cases on Long Island and across the country continue to rise.

Medical officials say the best way to convince people who have yet to get the shot is to bring it to them.

The parade started at the Patel Brothers grocery store on Broadway and ended near the Hicksville train station, where they set up a van to administer the COVID-19 vaccines and tests.

So far this summer, the van has administered over 5,000 shots.

VAXMOBILE LOCATIONS:
Valley Stream
Monday Aug. 9, 10am-4pm @ Valley Stream Middle School, 320 Fletcher Ave

West Hempstead
Tuesday Aug. 10, 10am-3pm @ Lakeview Firehouse, 891 Woodfield Rd

Uniondale
Wednesday Aug. 11, 10am-4pm @ Uniondale District Firehouse, 501 Uniondale Ave

Long Beach
Thursday Aug. 12, 10am-2pm St. @ Mary of the Ise Roman Catholic, 315 E. Walnut St.

Long Beach
Friday, Aug. 13, 10am-4pm @ Kennedy Plaza. 1 W. Chester St.