The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is a federal initiative designed to provide free vaccines to children who may not have access to them due to financial constraints. Established in 1994, the program has been instrumental in improving vaccine availability across the United States, ensuring that every child, regardless of family income, can receive the immunizations they need to stay healthy. 

The VFC program ensures that eligible children up to 18 years of age have access to vaccines at no charge. These vaccines are provided through a network of public and private healthcare providers who are enrolled in the program. The vaccines are purchased at a discount by the CDC and distributed to healthcare providers across the nation. The goal of the VFC program is to ensure that children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, regardless of their family's ability to pay for vaccinations. 

The origin of the VFC program stems from a major measles epidemic that occurred between 1989 and 1991. During this time, the United States experienced tens of thousands of measles cases, resulting in hundreds of deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated the outbreak and found that more than half of the children who contracted measles had not been vaccinated. Surprisingly, many of these children had seen healthcare providers, but the primary reason they weren’t vaccinated was the cost of the vaccine. In response to this, Congress passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) in 1993, which created the VFC program. The program became operational on October 1, 1994. 

The VFC program provides vaccines for 19 different diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, polio, hepatitis, and influenza. It has helped prevent millions of illnesses and hospitalizations, contributing to a significant reduction in vaccine-preventable diseases across the country. In fact, the VFC program has been credited with saving nearly $2.2 trillion in healthcare costs through the prevention of these diseases. 

The program has also played a crucial role in reducing disparities in vaccination rates among different populations, helping to ensure that children from low-income or underserved communities receive the same level of protection as those from wealthier families. Through its vast network of providers, the VFC program makes vaccines more accessible, helping to safeguard the health of the nation’s children. 

Visit the CIIS Portal to see what vaccines you’ve had and call us at (970) 728-3848 to make an appointment to get your vaccine.