Vaccines For Children Program (VFC)

The Vaccines for Children program is an entitlement program (a right granted by law) for eligible children, age 18 and below.

VFC helps families of children who may not otherwise have access to vaccines by providing free vaccines to doctors who serve them. VFC is administered at the national level by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) through the National Immunization Program. CDC contracts with vaccine manufacturers to buy vaccines at reduced rates. States and eligible projects enroll physicians who serve eligible patients up to and including age 18 years and who provide routine immunizations with little to no out-of-pocket costs to the parents.

Children who are 18 years old or younger are eligible for VFC vaccine if they:

  • Are eligible for Medicaid;
  • Have no health insurance;
  • Are Native American or Alaskan Native; or
  • Have health insurance, but it does not cover immunizations. In these cases, these children must go to a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or Rural Health Clinic (RHC) for immunizations. Underinsured children in Maine do not need to be sent to a FQHC or RHC to receive VFC vaccine. they can be vaccinated at your provider office.