Now in its 18th year of providing free immunizations to at risk children aged one month to 18 years, ChildProtect has expanded to multiple locations across the county and provided more than 151,347 immunizations to 67,000 children.

“The locations were chosen to help people in our community who didn’t have easy access to vaccines—the sites are within their reach,” said Mary LeVasseur, Manager, Community Health and Wellness. “We have recently expanded to provide vaccines at the Family Center of Gap.” The program gives immunizations to children from infant to age 18 who aren’t covered by health insurance or who rely on medical assistance such as Medicaid.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), immunization has been called the most important public health intervention in history. It has saved millions of lives and prevented hundreds of millions of cases of disease. When a vaccine is given, it helps the immune system make antibodies. These antibodies give children the added protection they need to avoid preventable diseases.

Vaccines are safe—most adverse events from immunizations are minor and temporary, such as a sore arm or mild fever.

Immunizations protect young children from diseases that many of us haven’t even heard about. “Many young parents don’t realize what diseases we’re preventing because the diseases haven’t occurred in their lifetime,” said Alan Peterson, MD, Medical Director of ChildProtect. “We need to remind them that if their child is not immunized, it’s possible that one of these diseases could be spread from another place in the world by simply an airplane ride or an un-immunized segment of society.” 

Lancaster General Health is part of the Lancaster County Immunization Coalition (LCIC). LCIC is chaired by Dr. Jennifer Ammons of Roseville Pediatrics and is dedicated to educating healthcare providers and the community of the overwhelming benefit of immunizations.

No appointment is needed to receive immunizations through ChildProtect; however, immunizations can only be provided for uninsured individuals or individuals on medical assistance. If you have insurance that does not cover immunizations, you can contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s vaccine clinic at (717) 299-7597. ChildProtect rotates dates and locations, which are open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

 

Bart Township Fire Company
11 Furnace Road, Bart
August 19th and October 21

Columbia Health Center
306 N. 7th Street, Columbia
July 20, August 17, September 21
October 19 and November 16

Liberty Fire Company
339 E. Main Street, New Holland
August 18, October 20

The Family Center of Gap
835 Houston Run Drive, Gap
July 21, September 22 and November 17

For more information about ChildProtect, please call Program Director Michelle Hargraves at (717) 544-3144.

 

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