Vaccines for Children Program (VFC)
Which children are eligible?
Through the VFC program, public purchased vaccine is available
at no charge to enrolled public and private health care providers for eligible children.
Children 18 years of age and under that meet at least one of the following criteria are eligible for VFC vaccine:
Medicaid eligible - a child who is eligible for the Medicaid program (in some States, children who are <1
year of age are automatically entitled to Medicaid benefits, if their mother is enrolled).
Uninsured - a child who has
no health insurance coverage.
American Indian or Alaska Native - as defined by the Indian Health Services Act.
Underinsured
- a child whose health insurance benefit plan does not include vaccinations.
Underinsured children are defined as those children who have health insurance but coverage does not include
vaccines. Children whose health insurance cover only select vaccines or caps the vaccine cost at a certain limit are categorized
as underinsured.
Children whose health insurance covers the cost of vaccinations are not eligible for VFC program benefits,
even when a claim for the cost of the vaccine and its administration would be denied, if submitted to the insurance carrier
for payment, because the plan’s deductible had not been met.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), known as Title XXI, enabled States to expand health
insurance coverage for uninsured children. Title XXI children enrolled in a separate State children health insurance program
(S-SHIP) are not VFC-eligible because they are neither Medicaid-eligible nor uninsured as required under Title XIX. However,
Title XXI children enrolled in a Medicaid Expansion (M-SHIP) are Medicaid eligible and entitled to VFC program benefits.
My child is behind on their shots. Can they still get VFC vaccine?
Yes, absolutely. It
doesn’t matter how far behind your child is in receiving their shots. Call or visit us to discuss how your child can
be brought back up to schedule.
My child is healthy. I'll just wait until school age to get them vaccinated.
No. This is a bad idea. Many of the immunizations children that need today, are intended for very young
children in their first months of life, because that is when they are most at risk for contracting vaccine-preventable diseases.
Thus, waiting for when a child starts school can be very dangerous to your child’s health in their first five years
of life. Additionally, the standard of care today for all young children, is that they be examined and evaluated by a doctor
for other important purposes besides immunization. Immunization is just one component of your child’s overall well-being.
So please take your child for regular and periodic visits as soon as possible
