Vaccines
for Children Program (VFC)
For Providers |
 |
|
ACIP:
The VFC Resolutions |
On
this page:
What
is the ACIP?
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) is a Federal advisory committee whose
role is to...read
more
The
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (42
U.S.C. 1396s) conferred an operational role
on the ACIP to establish a list of vaccines
for administration to children eligible to
receive vaccines through the VFC program, along
with schedules regarding the appropriate periodicity,
dosage, and contraindications applicable to
pediatric vaccines.
The
Secretary will use, for the purpose of purchase,
delivery, and administration of pediatric vaccines
in the VFC program, the established and periodically
reviewed list as appropriate.
The
ACIP meets three times each year. These meetings
are announced in notices published in the Federal
Register. At these meetings they may vote on
the inclusion of new vaccines into the VFC
program or the modification of existing resolutions.
These
decisions are codified as VFC
resolutions and are considered separate
from any other recommendations made by the
ACIP. In most cases, a VFC resolution takes
effect after publication and a CDC contract
for the purchase of that vaccine is established.
Adding
Vaccines to the VFC Program
VFC
resolutions passed by the ACIP form the
basis for VFC program policies on vaccine availability
and usage.
They
may not necessarily match the general usage
recommendations of the ACIP, but rather represent
the rules that providers must follow for administering
each specific vaccine under the VFC program.
The
National Immunization Program, NIP/CDC, and
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services
(CMS) communicate VFC resolutions to State
Immunization and Medicaid programs for dissemination
to providers at the local level.
VFC
vaccine must be administered according to the
guidelines outlined by the ACIP in the VFC
resolutions.
VFC
vaccine may also be administered in accordance
with State school attendance laws. Deviation
is not permitted and is considered abuse of
VFC vaccine. The ACIP issues resolutions by
vaccine type following licensure and/or as
recommendations for usage change. These consolidated
resolutions are placed on the VFC Internet
Homepage (http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vfc)
soon after ACIP approval.
Persons
who wish to propose additions or modifications
to VFC vaccine policy may contact the ACIP
directly or through the appropriate liaison.
Correspondence to the ACIP should be
directed to:
Dee
Gardner
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
c/o Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, N.E., Mailstop E-61
Atlanta, Georgia 30333
(404) 639-8096
|
