ChildProtect: Free vaccines for children in Lancaster County

For more than 30 years, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health has operated ChildProtect, a community program providing free childhood vaccines for families who qualify through the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Vaccines for Children Program. ChildProtect clinics are held every other month from February to December at various community locations throughout Lancaster County.

Immunization is one of the most effective ways to protect children from serious, preventable diseases. Following the recommended immunization schedule helps keep children, families, and our community healthy.

Read more about ChildProtect.

Eligibility

The ChildProtect program provides free CDC-recommended vaccines for children (birth to age 18 years old) who:

• do not have medical insurance
• are enrolled in Medicaid

Children with CHIP medical insurance do not qualify for this program.

Appointments

Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are accepted. Families with appointments are seen first.

To schedule, please call 717‑544‑3867.

View the full clinic schedule.

Prepare for your visit

You must bring your child's up-to-date immunization history or vaccine records to the clinic. We cannot give vaccines without records.

Learn more about what to expect at the clinic.

Weather‑related cancellations

For weather‑related updates, including clinic delays or cancellations, please call 717‑544‑3867.

ChildProtect follows the closures and cancellations of local school districts, and schedule changes will align with those announcements.

The importance of child vaccinations

Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect your child’s health. Diseases that used to be common in the United States and around the world, including polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), rubella (German measles), mumps, and tetanus, can now be prevented by vaccination. Thanks to a vaccine, one of the most terrible diseases in history, smallpox, no longer exists outside the laboratory.

Vaccines have prevented countless cases of disease and saved millions of lives.

Immunization resources

We recommend the following trusted, evidence‑based resources to help families learn more about vaccines, safety, and recommended schedules.

• Vaccine Education Center — Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• American Academy of Pediatrics Immunization Resources