In an effort to ensure all children have access to the necessary vaccines, the Pearl River Family Clinic will be holding a vaccine fair later this month.

During the event, all children aged 4 to 18 can receive vaccines free of charge.

Grace Ford, a nurse practitioner at Pearl River Family Clinic, said the vaccine fair is being held to ensure all children who need vaccines can receive them.

Vaccines protect children from a number of illnesses, such as pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, measles, mumps and rubella.

Ford would like to remind all families that any child entering the seventh grade in the coming school year will be required to have the Tdap vaccine booster shot.

On July 28, the clinic will hold a vaccine fair, where all children who are uninsured or underinsured can receive a vaccine for free while supplies last, paid for through the Vaccines for Children Program. Families with insurance can also attend; the cost of the shot will be filed with their insurance provider, Ford said. Administrative fees for all shots will be waived that day, as approved by the Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home Board of Directors.

The fair will begin at 9 a.m. and last as long as supplies last. At the event, there will be hotdogs, free child wellness checks and free school supplies.

Ford said the school supplies are being made available through donations from the Poplarville Rotary Club and Bank Plus in Poplarville.

Pearl River Family Clinic is located at 302 Highway 11 South in Poplarville and can be reached at 601-403-8284.

According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, all children who enter public school, Head Start or day care are required to have received the proper vaccinations for their age group. A complete immunization schedule can be found on the MSDH website at https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,71,439.html.