Vaccines for Children (VFC) Certification

Vaccines for Children, commonly known as VFC, is a program funded by the federal government. The VFC program was operational on October 1, 1994.  This program gives vaccines to children who cannot pay, are low-income, or do not have private insurance.¹ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) receives the vaccines from manufacturers and distributes them to registered VFC providers. The vaccines available to low-income children are those recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).¹ All the vaccines provided are intended to protect children from infectious diseases. 

 

Some stipulations qualify one for the VFC program. The child must be 18 or younger, have Medicaid or be eligible for Medicaid, be uninsured or underinsured, or be American Indian or Alaska Native. Although there is no cost for the vaccination, offices may set a standard fee to administer the vaccine or a cost for the office visit itself.¹  However, the fee must be waived if the family can not afford it.¹  

 

The CDC requires key immunization staff from all VFC clinics to take their training modules.² The proof of completion of these modules can be requested anytime. There are multiple modules, which include your specific state VFC/VAP Overview and Self-Assessment. These modules take about 35 minutes to complete and are required annually by the office VFC coordinator and their backup coordinator. The other two modules are Preparing and Administering Vaccines and Vaccine Storage and Handling. Both modules can take anywhere from 45-60 minutes to complete; these must be completed every two years by at least two immunization staff², though it benefits all staff who administer vaccinations. 

 

The VFC/VAP Overview and Self-Assessment covers important information that the clinic must abide by. One such agreement is the VFC Private and Public Provider Agreement. These cover requirements and VFC eligibility. Every clinic is required to screen for VFC eligibility at every appointment and document it on every VFC patient's permanent medical record.³ Every VFC participating clinic must (unless there is a medical or legal reason not to) stock and administer all the vaccines recommended by the ACIP.³ It also covers and reiterates that every immunization must be fully documented. The current Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) for the vaccine must be provided at every visit, and any adverse events from the immunization must be reported through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).³ It also covers fraud and abuse of the VFC program.

 

Preparing and Administering Vaccines covers common mistakes made while preparing and administering the vaccines. It aims to prevent vaccine errors by adequately applying the rights of medication administration to every injection given.² When properly preparing a vaccine, the provider should review the patient’s past immunization history before administration.⁴ Be sure to review the recommended vaccine schedule based on the child's age to help determine which vaccine(s) should be administered, and provide proper screening material to the patient or guardian before administration to prevent contradictions or allergic reactions. As aforementioned, a VIS should be provided to parents or guardians for every vaccination a child receives. These cover information regarding the vaccine, provide education on aftercare instructions, and reiterate the importance of following safe injection practices and expiration dates.⁴

 

Vaccine Storage and Handling covers the proper way to store vaccines and the best practices for storing and documenting vaccines. This training touches on the storage and handling errors that can cause a reduction in vaccine potency, which can result in an inadequate immune response and cause the need for revaccination.² It specifies the temperature the vaccines should stay at in the refrigerator (between 2 ℃ and 8℃) and the freezer (-50℃ and -15℃), and the recommended temperature monitoring devices.⁵ 

 

The VFC program offers continuing education (CE) hours through the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).⁶ The training is available for free through the CDC website. These online courses can be taken at any time. Once the modules are complete, the Medical Assistant can download a PDF and print the certification.

 

References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022, October 24). Vaccines for Children Program (VFC). CDC. Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/index.html
2. Oregon Health Authority (n.d.). Required Vaccine Provider Training. Oregon.gov. Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/preventionwellness/vaccinesimmunization/immunizationproviderresources/vfc/pages/required-vfc-training.aspx
3. Oregon Health Authority (n.d.). Oregon VFC/VAP Overview and Self-Assessment. OIP. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/isd/ycts/mod1/courses/sh/index.html
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023, January 1). Vaccine Administration. CDC. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://www2.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/vaxadmin/va/index.html
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023, January 1). Vaccine storage and Handling. CDC. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/isd/ycts/mod1/courses/sh/index.html
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023, January 1). CE Instructions for WB4627: Immunization: You Call the Shots-Module Sixteen-Vaccines for Children Program—2023. CDC. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/isd/ycts/mod1/courses/vfc/ce.asp