Immunizations: Vaccines for Children Program Information for Parents and Patients
About the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program
Vaccines are one of the best ways to keep your children healthy. The VFC program gives you access to free vaccines. Vaccines prevent many diseases and stop viruses from spreading.
The VFC program:
- Provides vaccines recommended for children.
- Saves parents out-of-pocket expenses for vaccines.
- Vaccinates more children by removing cost as a barrier.
- Offers better care for children by helping families to get vaccines from the child's doctor.
If your child is eligible for VFC, doctors in the VFC program can’t charge you for the vaccine.
Some doctors might charge fees for the office visit or to administer the vaccine. By law, they must give your child the vaccine even if you can’t afford to pay the administrative fee. If your child has Medicaid coverage, then Medicaid will pay for the office visit.
Learn more about VFC from the CDC
Who is eligible for VFC
Children ages 18 years and younger can get vaccines for free or at a lower cost. Your child is eligible if they:
- Are enrolled or eligible for Medicaid.
- Are American Indian or Alaska Native, as defined by the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C 1603).
- Don’t have health insurance.
- Have health insurance that doesn’t pay for all vaccines, making them eligible through a Federal Qualified Health Center or a Rural Health Clinic.
Find a VFC provider near you
Vaccines available through VFC
Vaccines for children less than 19 years of age are available at no cost to VFC providers. This includes all vaccines approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
When the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends a newly approved vaccine, we’ll add it to the VFC program. Providers can order that vaccine as soon as it becomes available.
The vaccines currently available through the VFC program prevent against the following diseases:
- COVID-19
- Diphtheria
- Haemophilus influenzae type b
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Influenza
- Measles
- Meningococcal disease
- Men B
- Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY)
- Mumps
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Pneumococcal disease
- Polio (IPV)
- Rotavirus
- RSV
- Rubella
- Tetanus
- Varicella (chickenpox)
Check out our flyer, P-02984, for parents about the VFC program . The flyer is available in Chinese, Hindi, Hmong, Pennsylvania Dutch, Somali, Spanish, and American Sign Language (ASL)
For answers to other questions about Vaccines For Children, visit the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website.
Contact the Immunization program at DHSImmProgram@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
Contact the VFC program at VFC@dhs.wisconsin.gov.