Prevention, protection, and trust for children’s health

For about 20 years, Barb Harvey has been providing potent shots in the arm for members of the Lancaster community to protect them from preventable diseases—and the first shot, before any vaccine, is always trust and information.

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Harvey is the lead clinical nurse for the Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health ChildProtect vaccination program, which provides free vaccinations for uninsured children across Lancaster County—usually at the remote, rural community hubs where people naturally gather.

Since the program’s inception in 1991 in response to an outbreak of rubella (German measles), ChildProtect has vaccinated about 80,000 children against preventable disease.

Each clinic location is different—a representation of the diverse communities found within Lancaster County. Some clinics, like the one in New Holland, Pennsylvania, mostly serve Amish and Mennonite groups (collectively known as the Plain community), and others serve recent immigrants from a predominantly Spanish-speaking population.

During any given ChildProtect vaccine clinic, a team of five or six ChildProtect nurses arrives at a community firehouse and starts their day setting up signage, welcoming desks, patient seating, and vaccination stations. They are usually greeted by crying children who are not thrilled about receiving their vaccinations.

The nurses who sign up to work at ChildProtect clinics go through additional training that other nurses do not receive. They have to be willing to work with sometimes needle-shy children, work long days from set-up to tear down, and travel to various clinic sites.

“Active listening, non-judgement, and an understanding tone encourage vaccinations—we deliver facts without promoting fear,” Harvey says.

This story is by Olivia Kimmel. Read more at Penn Medicine News.