About VFC
The Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program is a federally funded, state-operated program that supplies vaccines at no charge to enrolled public and private providers who serve VFC-eligible children. The national program offers an unprecedented approach to improving childhood immunization rates by providing vaccines at no cost to families that might not be able to afford them and increasing the likelihood of getting vaccinations on schedule. The California VFC Program has earned high marks for making it easy for providers to offer high-quality care to their patients.
Participating providers partner with VFC to raise immunization rates in their communities. VFC seeks to minimize barriers to vaccination, increase the likelihood of children getting their vaccinations on schedule, and keep children in their medical home for both primary care and immunizations.
Available Vaccines
The VFC Program supplies all ACIP-recommended vaccines and other immunizing agents that protect against 18 diseases at no cost to enrolled providers who serve VFC-eligible children. Vaccines are ordered online through a provider vaccine management system and are shipped by McKesson Specialty, Merck, or Pfizer.
Patient Eligibility
The VFC Program is an entitlement program. Hospitals screen patients and document VFC eligibility status at each immunization visit and administer VFC vaccines only to children from birth through 18 years of age who meet at least one of the eligibility criteria. Criteria include Medi-Cal-eligible (or enrolled), American Indian (AI) or Alaska Native (AN), Uninsured and Underinsured.
Qualifying Providers
Any provider who has a current California license with prescription-writing privileges may enroll. Candidates for enrollment are typically licensed as a Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Nurse Practitioner (NP), Physician Assistant (PA), Pharmacist, or a Certified Nurse Midwife with prescription-writing privileges in the state of California.
Enrollment
Interested providers enroll in myCAvax. Providers sign agreements during enrollment and annual recertification and agree to comply with VFC requirements. Once approved, regional Field Representatives schedule enrollment site visits to ensure providers and key practice staff are trained on and have the appropriate resources to implement program requirements. Interested? Enroll now.
Recertification
The California VFC Program launches annual recertification in December. Providers must sign and agree to program requirements and complete any required training to maintain their active accounts and continue to order no-cost vaccines. Read more.
Withdrawing from VFC
Providers may voluntarily withdraw from any vaccine program (PDF) and terminate their provider agreement at any time. Providers must return publicly supplied vaccines to CPDH or transfer them to an approved provider location.
VFC Overview
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Who administers the VFC Program?
The VFC Program was established by an act of Congress in 1993 and is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
The California VFC Program is administered by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Immunization Branch and has enrolled more than 4,000 public and private provider sites since its inception in 1995.
How does the program work?
CDC contracts with vaccine manufacturers to buy vaccines at reduced rates. Enrolled providers order federally funded vaccines through the California VFC Program and receive routine vaccines at no cost, including influenza, RSV, and COVID-19.
How do providers benefit?
- no-cost vaccines, revenues through State-allowed administrative fees
- comprehensive vaccine coverage for all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
- reintegration of immunization and primary care to retain children who might otherwise be referred elsewhere
- enhanced provider services to support populations receiving Medi-Cal-funded preventive care
Who determines which vaccines are supplied by VFC?
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) acts as advisor for CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and recommends vaccines to be included in the national VFC Program. ACIP’s decision to incorporate new vaccines is called a VFC resolution, which are published on CDC’s Vaccines Provided by the VFC Program webpage. Enrolled providers must comply with all VFC resolutions.
Do providers need to enroll in Medi-Cal?
No. Most VFC-eligible children are enrolled in each state’s Medicaid plan, which is implemented in California as Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal enrollment is not required. However, providers who wish to enroll in either program must enroll in the California VFC Program first.