Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) For State Immunization Projects
VFC Provider Enrollment Questions FAQs about State Immunization Projects
On this page:
Must a provider have an initial VFC enrollment site visit to become a VFC- enrolled provider? Can states make additional requirements for provider enrollment into the VFC program such as requiring AFIX visits or use of the registry? Who can enroll in the VFC program? What should we do if a VFC-enrolled primary care provider does not want to order or offer one specific VFC vaccine based on his or her medical judgment? Our state has large rural areas and many rural providers do not have the appropriate storage units to stock varicella vaccine and may be the only medical provider for several hundred miles. Are these providers non-compliant with the provider agreement for the VFC program because they are not offering a specific VFC vaccine xamples of Certified Thermometers? Must specialty providers offer all age appropriate VFC vaccines to their VFC-eligible patients in order to enroll in the VFC program?

1. Must a provider have an initial VFC enrollment site visit to become a VFC- enrolled provider?
   

   Yes, VFC program staff are required to make an initial VFC enrollment site visit to a provider who is enrolling in the VFC program. The site visit ensures that the provider and office staff are educated on the VFC program requirements and have the appropriate resources to implement the VFC program requirements.

2. Can states make additional requirements for provider enrollment into the VFC program such as requiring AFIX visits or use of the registry?
   

   No, states may not impose additional requirements for enrollment without prior approval from CDC. In addition, grantees must create their own provider enrollment form; however, any form must include the 9 federal enrollment requirement listed in Module Three, Provider Recruitment and Enrollment of the VFC Operations Guide.

3. Who can enroll in the VFC program?
   

   The VFC statute follows state law in qualifying practitioners as VFC providers. The term “authorized for administration of pediatric vaccines” used in Section 1928(c)(1) (A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396s (c)(1)(A)) is intended to mean authorized to prescribe vaccines. Therefore only health care providers authorized to prescribe vaccines under state law should be listed as the official VFC program registered providers. All additional providers should be listed on the Provider Enrollment form under “Additional Providers in the Practice.” The licenses and provider numbers for these additional providers must be listed on the enrollment form.

   Top
4. What should we do if a VFC-enrolled primary care provider does not want to order or offer one specific VFC vaccine based on his or her medical judgment?
   

   The VFC statue, at section 1928(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396s(c)(2)(B)(i)), states within the provider agreement section that the provider agrees as follows:

   “Subject to clause (ii) the provider will comply with the schedule, regarding the appropriate periodicity, dosage, and contraindications applicable to pediatric vaccines, that is established and periodically reviewed and, as appropriate, revised by the…[ACIP], except in such cases as, in the provider’s medical judgment subject to accepted medical practice, such compliance is medically inappropriate.” CDC interprets this provision to mean a medical judgment based on the situation of an individual VFC patient. Except as noted in the next Q and A regarding varicella vaccine, only specialty providers may choose, at the discretion of the grantee, to offer only specific VFC vaccines and their choice is based on the scope of their medical practices. Other VFC providers must offer the full list of VFC vaccines according to the schedule determined by the ACIP in its VFC resolutions, except when in the provider’s medical judgment, subject to accepted medical practice, the circumstances of an individual VFC patient makes such vaccination medically inappropriate.

5. Our state has large rural areas and many rural providers do not have the appropriate storage units to stock varicella vaccine and may be the only medical provider for several hundred miles. Are these providers non-compliant with the provider agreement for the VFC program because they are not offering a specific VFC vaccine xamples of Certified Thermometers?

   Certain vaccines, such as varicella vaccine, require special storage and it would be accepted medical practice not to order or store those vaccines if the provider did not have the appropriate storage facilities. We encourage grantees to assist providers in finding ways to obtain vaccine storage that will allow provision of all VFC vaccines.

6. Must specialty providers offer all age appropriate VFC vaccines to their VFC-eligible patients in order to enroll in the VFC program?

   Specialty providers, at the discretion of the grantee, may limit their VFC practice to particular relevant vaccines.

Return to VFC State Immunization Project FAQs

This page last modified on June 4, 2007