The Omnibus Budget Act (OBRA) created the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program as Section 1928 of the Social Security Act on August 10, 1993. While the National Immunization Program (NIP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in cooperation with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is operationally responsible for the VFC Program, Health Departments provide leadership at the State and local levels.
The VFC Program, which became operational on October 1, 1994, represents an unprecedented approach to improving vaccine availability through public and private providers. The national VFC Program is reaching more children with free vaccines than ever before and allows parents to receive free vaccines for their children from their enrolled provider. Vaccines are supplied at no cost to public and private health care providers who enroll and agree to immunize eligible children in their practices or clinics.
Children from birth through 18 years of age eligible to receive free vaccines include those who:
- Do not have health insurance,
- Are enrolled in Medicaid, and/or
- Are American Indian or Alaskan Native.
Also, children who have health insurance that does not include vaccines as a covered benefit may receive free vaccine from a Federally Qualified Health Center.
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