The Help is Here Express will roll into Vicksburg on Thursday, bringing information on prescription assistance.

If you go

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance bus will be parked at the United Way, South and Crawford streets, from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday. Bring names of prescriptions and income and age information. For information, call 888-4PPA-NOW or visit www.pparx.org.

The bus, operated by the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, will arrive at 10 a.m. and will remain for an hour in the United Way parking lot at Crawford and South streets.

PPA is a free program sponsored by pharmaceutical research companies, patient advocacy groups, health-care providers and community organizations. The program helps uninsured patients gain access to more than 475 prescription assistance programs.

“The program is like a matching service to let people know what they are eligible for on a state and national level,” said Kaelan Hollon, director of communications and public affairs for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

The vehicle, dubbed “the big orange bus,” is equipped with computer terminals and mobile phones. A specialist will be on board, but a doctor’s approval and signature might be required to obtain prescriptions. Patients should allow two to three weeks for delivery.

The bus does not carry medicines on board.

In the nearly four years since the program was founded, the PPA has helped more than 5.6 million people.

From Vicksburg, the bus will head to Greenville Friday and will be parked from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Percy Library, 341 Main St.

Call 888-4PPA-NOW or visit www.pparx.org for information.

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchanprasith@vicksburgpost.com.