The
Vaccines For Children (VFC) Program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of an inability to pay.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) purchases vaccines at a discount from manufacturers. The vaccines are then distributed at no charge to VFC providers for administration to children younger than 19 years of age who meet one of the following eligibility categories:
- Medicaid-eligible
- American Indian or Alaska Native
- Uninsured
- Underinsured = means the child has health insurance, but it
- Doesn’t cover vaccines, or
- Doesn’t cover certain vaccines, or
- Covers vaccines but has a fixed dollar limit or cap for vaccines.
The eligibility category of “underinsured” may only be used if a child receives vaccine at a designated Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)/Rural Health Center (RHC).
If none of the above applies, Alaska children may receive vaccine funded through the Alaska Vaccine Assessment Program (AVAP.)
Providers enrolled in VFC may use both VFC- and AVAP-funded vaccines.