About VFA
The Vaccines for Adults (VFA) Program was created by the California Department of Public Health to supply Section 317 vaccines at no cost to qualifying health centers who serve eligible adults 19 years and older.
Participating providers partner with VFA to help increase adult vaccination rates and decrease disparities in immunization coverage. To meet program goals, VFA works with qualifying health centers to help them integrate standards for adult immunization practice into routine clinical care.
Available Vaccines
The VFA Program supplies most vaccines routinely recommended for adults by the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). See Vaccine Eligibility Guidelines for CHCs (PDF) for currently available vaccines.
Patient Eligibility
Adults 19 years of age and older may receive VFA vaccines if they are uninsured (no public or private health insurance coverage) or underinsured (has public or private health insurance but coverage does not include vaccines, covers only select vaccines, covers vaccines but with a fixed dollar limit, or does not include first-dollar coverage including copay, co-insurance or deductible). Patients with Medi-Cal or who have both Medicare Part B and Part D are considered fully insured and are not eligible for VFA-funded vaccines. Refer to Vaccine Eligibility Guidelines for CHCs (PDF).
Qualifying Providers
To enroll, health centers must have experience providing a safety net for uninsured and underinsured adults and be one of these provider types:
- Community Health Center (CHC)
- Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHCs)
- FQHC look-alike
- Rural Health Center (RHC)
- Tribal Health Center
- Indian Health Services (IHS) Center
Enrollment
VFA is not accepting applications for enrollment at this time. Eligible providers will be notified when program enrollment re-opens.
Interested providers enroll in myCAvax. Providers sign agreements during enrollment and annual recertification and agree to comply with VFA 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
Provider recertification occurs each year in December and concurrently with VFC. Providers sign and agree to updated requirements and complete required training to maintain their active accounts and order no-cost vaccines. Look for annual program letters that guide providers through all aspects of the recertification process. See Recertification for more information.
Withdrawing from VFA
Providers may voluntarily withdraw from any vaccine program (PDF) (IMM-1244) and terminate their provider agreement at any time. Providers must return publicly supplied vaccines to CPDH or transfer them to an approved provider location.
FAQs
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How does the program work?
VFA vaccines are purchased with limited federal funds (called Section 317 funds) and are referred to as 317-funded VFA vaccines.
How do providers benefit?
- Reduced up-front costs through no-cost vaccines.
- Comprehensive coverage of most vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
- Reintegration of immunization and primary care.
Who determines which vaccines are supplied by VFA?
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 Section 317 program. For recommendations to become official, they must be adopted by the CDC Director and are typically published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
Who determines immunization recommendations for the SGF Program?
Assembly Bill (AB) 144 (2025-26) was signed into law to ensure Californias have continued access to preventive care services, including immunizations. Passage of AB 144, and in accordance with California Health & Safety Code section 120164, gives CDPH authority to make immunization recommendations for California. CDPH immunization recommendations can be found on the Public Health for All website.
Do VFA and LHD 317 Programs share the same requirements?
No. While vaccines for both programs are 317-funded, programs are independently run and have separate requirements for VFA providers and local health departments, primarily surrounding ordering cadence and billing.