In North Carolina, the Vaccines For Children (VFC) program is part of the Universal Childhood Vaccine Distribution Program (UCVDP). In North Carolina, all children are eligible for required state-supplied vaccines, regardless of their insurance status.

Funds for the VFC program are transferred every year from the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and awarded to North Carolina's immunization project. About 90% of these funds are used for the purchase of childhood vaccines. The remaining funds are used by the Immunization Branch for program operational activities such as provider enrollment, program evaluation, and vaccine accountability activities. The VFC program began on October 1, 1994 with the goal of improving vaccination services in North Carolina by providing vaccine to VFC-eligible children through providers who have enrolled in the state's UCVDP program.

The VFC program:

• Provides federally purchased vaccine, for eligible children, at no charge to public and private providers;
• Automatically covers vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), established by resolution and approved by the CDC;
• Saves parents and enrolled providers out-of-pocket expenses for vaccine purchases;
• Provides cost savings to North Carolina by bulk purchase vaccine contracts at lower prices; and
• Reduces or eliminates vaccine cost as a barrier to vaccination of eligible children.

Children through 18 years of age that meet at least one of the following criteria are eligible for VFC vaccine:

• Medicaid enrolled - a child who is eligible or enrolled in the Medicaid program.
• Uninsured - a child who has no medical insurance coverage.
• American Indian or Alaskan Native - as defined by the Indian Health Service Act.
• Underinsured - Applies to children whose insurance plans do not fully cover the cost of vaccines (independent of co-pays, deductibles and administration fees).