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Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) Questions Providers Ask About the Vaccines for Children Program Why Vaccines for Children?Which vaccines does VFC offer? What are the benefits of participating? How do I tell if a patient is eligible for VFC vaccines? How much paperwork is required? Do I have to accept anyone who qualifies for VFC vaccines? Can I charge an administration fee if a patient comes in for VFC vaccine? Will I need a new refrigerator/freezer? Will I always receive the same brands of vaccine? Who's paying for the VFC Program? Do you plan to monitor providers who enroll in VFC? Are there any additional benefits of the VFC program for my clinic? Why Vaccines for Children? Oregon's VFC program was designed by a coalition of private and public sector health care professionals. The program aims to help Oregon reach its goal of having 90 percent of our children up-to-date with their immunization series by age two. Currently, only about 76.5 percent of Oregon's children are immunized on time. Approximately 60 percent of U.S. children may be expected to benefit from the VFC Program. One of the most common barriers to immunizing children on time is missed opportunities. VFC reduces this barrier by making it possible for private providers to offer free vaccines in their own offices ot clinics to children who might otherwise need to go to public health facilities because their parents can't afford out-of-pocket payment for vaccines. This helps keep patients in their medical home, which research shows encourages timely vaccination.Which Vaccines Does VFC Offer? Currently, the vaccines and combination vaccines offered through VFC are those providing protection against diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papilloma virus (HPV), influenza (high risk children only), measles, meningococcal, mumps, pertussis, pneumococcal, poliomyelitis, rotavirus, rubella, tetanus and varicella.What are the benefits of participating? Your clinic will receive free vaccines and be able to immunize children in your office instead of referring them to a public health facility. You'll help Oregon reach its goal of having 90% of our children up-to-date with their immunization series by age 2. How do I tell if a patient is eligible for VFC vaccines? Simply ask if the patient is:
How much paperwork is required? Very little.
Do I have to accept anyone who qualifies for VFC vaccines? No. You're agreeing only to give VFC vaccines to eligible patients already in your practice. Accepting additional patients is your decision. Can I charge an administration fee if a patient comes in for VFC vaccine? You may charge an administration fee of up to $15.19 per immunization. The administration fee can be billed to Oregon Health Plan or managed care plans for your Medicaid patients. For uninsured patients, you may charge them the fee; however, you may not deny VFC vaccine to your current, eligible patients even if they cannot pay the administration fee. Will I need a new refrigerator/freezer? Not if you already have a refrigerator with enough capacity to store the vaccines. If not, you may want to look into getting one. Your clinic should also consider purchasing a freezer for varicella vaccine if the current one cannot maintain an average temperature of -15°C/5°F. Follow the CDC recommendations for handling and storage of biologicals. Will I always receive the same brands of vaccine? VFC allows clinics to order some vaccines by brand. This preference can be noted when placing your VFC vaccine order. Who's paying for the VFC Program? VFC is a federally-funded and state-operated program. Do you plan to monitor providers who enroll in VFC? We do require a site visit by your Immunization Health Educator every two to three years to monitor VFC compliance. These hour-long visits are conducted with one staff person, usually the VFC contact at the clinic, and are a great educational opportunity for the clinic. Are there any additional benefits of the VFC program for my clinic? Yes. Our staff has the knowledge and skills to provide training for your clinic staff on immunization techniques, vaccine storage and handling, combination vaccine and more.
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