Vaccines for Children Program

Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) is a federally funded program in the United States, providing vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay.

History

The Vaccines for Children Program was established in 1993 as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. This was in response to a measles outbreak that resulted in hundreds of deaths. The program was designed to eliminate vaccine cost as a barrier to vaccination for eligible children.

Eligibility

Children who are eligible for the VFC program include those who are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured, or American Indian or Alaska Native. The program covers children from birth through 18 years of age.

Vaccines Covered

The VFC program covers all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This includes vaccines against diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), rotavirus, pneumococcal disease, influenza, and human papillomavirus (HPV).

Administration

The VFC program is administered by the CDC. The CDC buys vaccines at a discount and distributes them to grantees—i.e., state health departments and certain local and territorial public health agencies—which in turn distribute them at no charge to those private physicians' offices and public health clinics registered as VFC providers.

Impact

Since its inception, the VFC program has contributed to the highest childhood immunization rates ever recorded in the United States. It has also played a key role in the near elimination of disparities in vaccination coverage among young children of different racial and ethnic backgrounds.

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