Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program
Essential VFC Vaccine Management Training
VFC vaccine ordering is going electronic. We're here to help you save time managing VFC vaccine inventory through Florida SHOTS, and we're offering one-hour online training sessions that will walk providers through each step of the process and include time for participant questions. There are separate training programs for VFC Program private providers and County Health Departments (CHD), please be sure to register for the correct program for your practice.
Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.Private Providers
For additional details, training support materials, or to register for a session, visit the Florida SHOTS™ blog.
County Health Departments
CHD training sessions will be conducted by Florida SHOTS trainer, Beth Cox. A Web-Ex Webinar invitation was forwarded to appropriate staff. If you did not receive the invitation or have questions regarding the CHD training sessions, contact Beth Cox at flshots@doh.state.fl.us or (850) 245-4444 Ext. 2342.
The Florida VFC Program provides vaccines to children 0 through 18 years of age who meet program eligibility at no cost to the parent/guardian. It supports the Immunization Program's commitment to vaccinate all children. This valuable program allows providers to make routine immunizations available to eligible children without out-of-pocket expenses to the parent/guardian.
What are the benefits of the VFC Program?
- Reduces vaccine cost as a barrier to vaccinating VFC Program-eligible children at the right time with the right vaccine.
- Provides children with necessary vaccines, regardless of their parents’ financial status.
- Eliminates the need to refer children to public clinics for vaccinations and risk loss of continuity of care.
- Continues or maintains the provider’s present system of purchasing vaccines for private-paying patients. Participation in the VFC Program does not impact private vaccine purchase.
How it Works
The VFC Program is a federal program administered and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). The VFC Program purchases the vaccines and supplies them to enrolled VFC Program providers at no cost. Enrolled VFC Program providers are able to order vaccines through their state VFC Program and receive routine vaccines at no cost.
VFC Results
The Florida VFC Program began in 1994. It has distributed over $200 million worth of vaccines annually to private physicians, hospitals, and other public and private healthcare providers throughout the state. The VFC Program represents an unprecedented approach to improving vaccine availability nationwide by making federally-purchased vaccine available to both public and private immunization providers. The program has succeeded in raising immunization coverage rates among high-risk children and reducing disparities in access to healthcare. The VFC Program has also helped reduce physician referrals for immunizations to public clinics.
Healthcare providers may sign up for the VFC Program today.
