The Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program is a federally-funded, state-operated vaccine supply program. This national program is intended to help raise childhood immunization levels, especially among infants and young children throughout the U.S. Approximately 60 percent of California's children may be expected to benefit from the VFC Program.
The national goal to vaccinate 90 percent of 2-year-old children depends on the support of private health care providers. The Vaccines for Children Program contributes to this goal by removing vaccine cost as a barrier to vaccinating eligible children in the care of private health care providers.
The VFC Program means that participating physicians no longer need to refer many children in their care to public providers for immunizations if parents cannot afford the out-of-pocket cost for vaccines.
Since its start on October 1, 1994, California's VFC Program has annually supplied vaccine, at no cost, to participating public and private sector providers. In 2008, the VFC Program in California distributed $300 million of federally-purchased vaccine to 4,100 public and private provider sites throughout the State. California's customer satisfaction surveys have consistently shown most providers to be very satisfied with the VFC Program.
Children Eligible for the VFC Program
The VFC Program was created to meet the vaccination needs of children from birth through 18 years of age.
Children eligible to receive VFC-provided vaccine include the following:
- Children eligible for Medicaid (Medi-Cal and Child Health and Disability Prevention [CHDP] Program eligible in California);
- Children who do not have health insurance; and
- Children who are American Indian or Alaskan Native
Note: Children who have health insurance, including Healthy Families Program subscribers, are not eligible to receive VFC vaccines.
Please visit www.eziz.org for information on VFC Participation Requirements, Enrollment, Vaccine Ordering and Supply, Recertification, Trainings, and more.
To Contact the San Diego Field Office and/or to Enroll in VFC:
John A. Hetsko
Senior Field Representative, CDPH
Phone: (619) 692-8423
Email: John.Hesko@sdcounty.ca.gov
June Howe
Field Representative, CDPH
Phone: (619) 692-5626
Email: June.Howe@sdcounty.ca.gov
To Contact your VFC Field Representative:
Glenda Sawada, MPH
VFC
Field Representative
Phone: (619) 692-6609
Email: Glenda.Sawada@sdcounty.ca.gov
Colleen Mallen
VFC Field Representative
Phone: (619) 692-6610
Email: Colleen.Mallen@sdcounty.ca.gov
Nia Price
VFC Field Representative
Phone: (619) 692-8047
Email: Nia.Price@sdcounty.ca.gov
Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program providers may now use the following statewide, toll-free telephone numbers to contact the Central VFC Office:
Phone: |
877-2GET-VFC (877-243-8832) |
Fax: |
877-FAXX-VFC (877-329-9832) |
Providers may continue to use the direct numbers (telephone: 510-704-3750, fax: 510-834-0242) to contact the central VFC office; however, these numbers are NOT toll-free.
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