By Ethan Covey
Providing vaccines free to some children appears to be a successful way to vaccinate the nation's children. Data from the National Immunization Survey-Child surveys from 2012 through 2022 found that vaccine coverage among children eligible for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program was generally high, although areas for improvement exist.
The VFC program, which was established by Congress in 1994, provides free vaccine coverage for most U.S. children (MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73[33]:722-730).
“Almost 90% of the Vaccines for Children program–eligible children born in 2020 received the first dose of the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine, with no differences by race and ethnicity, poverty status, or living in urban versus rural areas,” said Madeleine R. Valier, MPH, an epidemiologist with the CDC’s Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “This shows how VFC program has helped ensure that all children can receive lifesaving vaccines.”
Rotavirus vaccination coverage by age 8 months was 64.8% to 71.1%, and increased by an average of 0.7 percentage points annually. Coverage by 24 months for a seven-vaccine series was 61.4% to 65.3%.
“Despite these successes, gaps in vaccination coverage remain,” Ms. Valier said. “We need to increase the number of children who receive all recommended vaccines and reach children living below the poverty level and those without health insurance. Efforts are needed to ensure parents and guardians of VFC-eligible children are aware of, have confidence in and can obtain all recommended vaccines for their children.”
The report also found that among children born during 2020, vaccination coverage was 4 to 14 percentage points lower among those who were eligible versus non-eligible for the VFC program.
While the report found lower coverage among VFC-eligible children living below the poverty level and those who are uninsured, the study did not address underlying reasons for why these children have lower rates of vaccination coverage, Ms. Valier said.
“The VFC program covers the cost of the vaccine for eligible children, which reduces financial barriers associated with getting vaccinated,” she added. “Additional research is needed to understand other barriers, such as logistical barriers, lack of awareness of the VFC program or lack of confidence in vaccination, that these children might experience in getting vaccinated.”
