Q&A: CDC’s Vaccines for Children Program celebrates 30 years

Why was the Vaccines for Children Program started?

It was in response to a measles outbreak that occurred between 1989 and 1991. Children were going in to see their primary care providers and they didn’t have access to the vaccine. Some of those children were getting measles. This program was established so children would have access to no-cost vaccines.

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What is the program’s mission?

The current mission of the Vaccines for Children Program is to make sure that all children that are eligible have access to no-cost vaccines. These include people up to 18 years old who are on Medicaid, children that are uninsured or underinsured, and children that are American Indian and Alaska Natives.

What communities are the furthest from vaccine equity?

There are challenges with race and ethnicity and those that live in rural areas. That is an area where it’s really important for us to have an increased focus — making sure that there is continued access, or greater access to vaccine providers in the program, particularly in rural areas.

What are the successes over the program’s three decades?

We estimate that routine childhood vaccinations have prevented 508 million illnesses, 32 million hospitalizations and about 1.1 million deaths.

So really, there’s been a dramatic impact of the Vaccines for Children Program, and we estimate we’ve kept up to date about 40 million children on their routine childhood vaccinations.

Even with growing need, the number of Vaccines for Children Program provider locations has fallen, with about 37,000 today. What’s driving the drop?

We’re not clear on exactly what is driving this decline in providers, but it is something we are very interested in addressing.

One of the things that we’re doing this fall is a big push at increasing the number of birthing hospitals that are Vaccines for Children providers. With the new availability of immunizations against RSV for infants, if we can enroll birthing hospitals in VFC, we can ensure greater access for infants.

Also we are looking at different VFC policies that might make it more challenging to be a VFC provider, and seeing what we can do where we still maintain the integrity of the VFC program.

Too many vulnerable U.S. children are still not up to date on their recommended vaccines. Why is that?

I think the pandemic highlighted, or even exacerbated, the issue of access to health care. Children not getting well-child visits is highly correlated with children not getting vaccines.

There may be some places where adolescents could get some of their vaccines in a pharmacy, or there may be school-based clinics where children can get vaccinated. I think it’s really important to continue to think about other ways to reach children in addition to their medical home.

CDC’s Vaccines for Children Program has kept 40 million children up to date on their routine vaccinations.

Photo by Fstop123, courtesy iStockphoto

What should parents know ahead of this back-to-school season?

The first thing is making sure your child is up to date on vaccinations. Each year, about 250,000 children are estimated to enter kindergarten not up to date on their vaccinations.

In light of the fact that we are seeing measles outbreaks in different parts of the country, I think it’s very important that we have children that are healthy and ready to learn. One of the ways for that to happen is that they have their vaccinations.

For more information on CDC’s Vaccines for Children Program, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines-for-children. This interview was edited for style, space and clarity.