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Vaccines For Children ProgramWHAT IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE? While VFC covers underinsured children, their access to vaccines has been limited, permitting them to receive vaccines only at federally-qualified health centers or rural health centers. Because the VFC authorizing legislation still imposes a price cap on all vaccines for which a federal contract existed prior to May, 1993, manufacturers of Tetanus Diphtheria (Td, DT) vaccines have refused to bid on CDC contracts since 1998. Consequently, these vaccines are unavailable for purchase through the VFC program. An unprecedented shortage of many routinely recommended vaccines included in the VFC program occurred in the United States, beginning in 2001. These shortages posed an increased risk to children of preventable infectious diseases. To ensure that providers enrolled in the VFC program adhere to the many VFC program requirements, increased automated accountability processes are needed. WHAT HAS CDC ACCOMPLISHED? The VFC program provides immunizations for children who are uninsured, Medicaid recipients, Native Americans, and Alaska Natives at their doctors' offices. VFC also provides immunizations for children whose insurance does not cover immunizations at participating federally-qualified health centers and rural health clinics. By decreasing referrals to public health departments, the VFC program has improved the continuity of care and promoted the "medical home" concept. The program has contributed to high immunization rates and reduced delays in immunizations and, subsequently, the risk of serious illness or death from vaccine-preventable diseases. The VFC program ensures that all eligible children receive the benefits of newly recommended vaccines, thus strengthening immunity levels in their communities. The program also ensures that access to newly recommended vaccines for children in low-income and uninsured families does not lag behind that for children in middle- and upper-income families. WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS? PDF Version (size 118KB) This page last reviewed January 2004
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |