Oakhurst Medical Centers, Inc. will provide a “limited number” of free immunizations to school-age children at the CrossRoadsNews Back-to-School Expo on Aug. 4 at the Mall at Stonecrest..

“We plan to serve from 25 to 65, depending on our manpower for that day,” said Tarri Johnson, coordinator of research and collaborative services.

Children must have their shot records with them, and kids who are immunized at the Expo will get free backpacks packed with school supplies, while they last.

Free hearing and vision screenings will also be provided by Oakhurst physicians.

Dr. Shaveanda Queen, a pediatrician at Oakhurst Medical’s Decatur location , will process immunization s and greet families.

She talked about the significance of the shots.

“Anything there’s a vaccine for is usually a pretty bad illness to get, and we generally do not have cures for them,” she said.

She tells kids: “It’s a little hurt to prevent a big sickness.”

She reminds families about the importance of handwashing and staying home from school when a child is sick with fever until the fever has been gone for 24 hours.

“That reduces their ability to spread sickness,” Dr. Queen said.

People who miss out on Oakhurst’s immunizations at Stonecrest can try to get them the same day at Oakhurst Medical Center’s main office, 770 Village Square Drive in Stone Mountain.

The health provider will hold its own Back to School Health & Wellness Family Fun Day Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The immunizations given there will also be free and available while they last. Immunization records are required there as well.

Other screenings

Kaiser Permanente will do blood pressure screenings.

Compassionate Nurses will offer blood pressure screenings and tips on natural holistic treatments for stress and other issues.