Birthing Hospitals
Overview
VFC strongly encourages birthing hospitals, acute care hospitals, and other facilities providing care to neonatal patients to join VFC to ensure eligible newborns are immunized against RSV and Hepatitis B before hospital discharge.
Participating facilities 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 providers who serve VFC-eligible children. Facilities are only required to carry vaccines for patient populations served. For birthing hospitals, facilities would only need to offer HepB and monoclonal antibody immunizing products (e.g., nirsevimab).
Patient Eligibility
The VFC Program is an entitlement program. Children must meet federal eligibility criteria to receive public vaccines to ensure vaccines are going to the intended populations. Children from birth through 18 years of age must meet at least one of these eligibility criteria to receive VFC vaccines: Medi-Cal-eligible (or enrolled), American Indian (AI) or Alaska Native (AN), Uninsured, and Underinsured.
Qualifying Providers
Each hospital or clinic site must have a Provider of Record who signs legal agreements and is responsible for site compliance with all VFC requirements. Any provider licensed in California with prescription-writing privileges may enroll, including 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. Facilities may participate in VFC regardless of whether they accept Medi-Cal.
Program Benefits
- No-cost HepB and RSV immunizations
- Protecting infant patients with recommended vaccines before hospital discharge
- Ongoing educational and quality assurance support
- Improved immunization levels among vulnerable communities
- Commingling of private and VFC stock in the same vaccine storage units
Honor Roll
VFC honors facilities administering HepB and RSV doses to VFC-eligible children. See the list of hospitals in our honor roll.
Enrollment
Each hospital or clinic site receiving VFC vaccines must enroll separately. Enrollment in one of California’s immunization registries is required. Interested? Enroll now. Contact the VFC Program Call Center (877) 243-8832 or VFCEnrollment@cdph.ca.gov with questions. See Birthing Hospital Enrollment FAQs for more information.
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.
Recertification
The California VFC Program launches annual recertification in December. Providers sign and agree to updated requirements and complete required training to maintain active accounts and order no-cost vaccines. Look for annual program letters and communications that guide providers through all aspects of the recertification process. See Recertification for more information.
Linked Resources
Enrollment
- Birthing Hospitals Enrollment FAQs
- Birthing Institutions and the VFC Program (PDF) (AIM)
- VFC Program Benefits for Hospitals (PDF) (CDC)
- Digital Temperature Log (PDF) (editable PDF for hospital-use only)
Updating EHR/EMR Systems
- For hospitals using EPIC:
- Facilitate Ordering and Administering VFC Medications in the Inpatient Setting on Galaxy for specific build recommendations
- Reach out to the organization’s EpicCare Ambulatory and Willow Inpatient application TS for further assistance.
Parent Education
- RSV Preventive Antibody IIS (Immunize.org)
