Vaccines for Children (VFC)
Vaccines for Children (VFC) is a federally-funded and state-operated vaccine supply
program. VFC
provides free vaccines to eligible children. Through the combined efforts of
public immunization clinics and private physicians, the program strives to increase
vaccine coverage levels nationwide.
Children must meet one of the following criteria to be eligible for VFC vaccines:
- Be
enrolled in the Medicaid or Kids
Connections program
- Have
no health insurance coverage
- American
Indian or Alaskan Native
- Underinsured:
the child may have some health insurance but the benefit plan doesn’t include
immunizations. Underinsured children are eligible to receive VFC vaccines only if
they’re served by a Federally Qualified Health Center or a Certified Rural Health Center.
*
The VFC program was created to meet the vaccination needs of children from birth
through 18 years as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP). The ACIP and the American Academy of Pediatrics are working closely to ensure
uniformity in the childhood immunization schedule. The vaccines available through the VFC
program currently include: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Haemophilus influenza type b,
poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, pneumococcal (pneuomonia), flu,
varicella, meningococcal, Rotavirus, Hepatitis A, and HPV.
For more information, please call the VFC toll-free number: 1-800-798-1696.
* If a child’s insurance provider covers
immunization, then that child is not eligible to receive VFC vaccines regardless of whether the deductible has been met or
not.
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