Immunizations: Vaccines for Children Program Information for Parents and Patients

Places you can get VFC vaccine include clinics or medical practices, local health departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), Rural Health Clinics (RHC), and some pharmacies. Please refer to the Find a VFC location near me section to find a VFC location near you.

If you are eligible for VFC vaccine, you won’t be charged for the cost of the vaccine itself at any location enrolled in the VFC program. Some providers might charge fees for the office visit or to administer the vaccine (no more than $20.83 per vaccine). By law, providers must waive the vaccine administration fee if you are unable to pay it. If your child has Medicaid coverage, Medicaid will pay for the office visit and the vaccine administration fee. See the table below for a detailed summary of where you may go to get VFC vaccine based on your VFC eligibility category and any potential costs.

*Underinsured means your child has private health insurance, but it doesn’t include vaccines, only covers some vaccines, or has a fixed dollar limit or cap for payment. Children can get non-covered vaccines at a FQHC or RHC.

**Providers will waive the vaccine administration fee if you are unable to pay it. See “What can I be charged for at my visit?” FAQ for more information.

^***Please contact the provider to discuss all costs associated with the visit.

^$Visit the Find a VFC location near me section below to find a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or Rural Health Clinic (RHC) near you.

All vaccines approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) are available to VFC eligible children.

When the ACIP recommends a newly approved vaccine, it will be added to the VFC program. Check with your provider to confirm vaccine availability before your visit.

The vaccines currently available through the VFC program protect against the following diseases:

Visit the Recommended Schedules for Wisconsinites page to see which vaccines your child needs at each age.
Contact the VFC program with any questions at VFC@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

Parents do not need to enroll their children in the VFC program to receive vaccine. Provider offices across Wisconsin enroll in the VFC program to offer vaccine free of charge to children who meet the eligibility criteria described above. If your child is eligible, visit the Find a VFC location near me section to make an appointment to get all age-appropriate vaccines.

Eligible children will not be charged for the cost of the vaccine. However, there may be an administration fee. Non-Medicaid VFC patients can be charged a vaccine administration fee of no more than $20.83 per vaccine in Wisconsin. The clinic may issue only a single bill to the patient within 90 days of vaccine administration. If the vaccine administration fee remains unpaid, these charges won’t be sent to collections, and your provider cannot refuse to vaccinate your child in the future. Medicaid eligible patients cannot be charged an administration fee.

Additionally, please note that you could be charged for an office (doctor or nurse) visit and other non-vaccine care, like an eye exam or blood work. Call the clinic before the appointment if you have questions about these additional costs.

Call the VFC location before your visit to confirm they offer VFC vaccine and have the necessary vaccines available. If your child has ever lived outside of Wisconsin, locate their previous vaccine records, if available.

You do not have to show any proof that your child is eligible for free vaccines using the VFC Program. However, if you have insurance, bring your Medicaid card or other insurance card. Your doctor is required to ask and document the following to confirm eligibility:

• Is your child on Medicaid?
• Does your child have any health insurance coverage? Does the insurance cover vaccines?
• Is your child of American Indian or Alaskan Native heritage?

Many doctors will already have this information in your child’s medical record or as a part of normal business records, but if your child’s insurance or Medicaid status changes, you need to inform the doctor’s office of those changes.

Children enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid (BadgerCare Plus), American Indian or Alaska Native, and children without health insurance may visit any VFC location. Underinsured children, whose private health insurance doesn’t include vaccines or only covers some vaccines, may receive non-covered vaccines at a Federal Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or a Rural Health Clinic (RHC). Refer to the Details about VFC location types and potential costs section for more information.

If you are eligible for VFC vaccine, you should not be charged for the cost of vaccine. Non-Medicaid VFC patients can be charged a vaccine administration fee of no more than $20.83 per vaccine in Wisconsin, so confirm it is not an administration fee. Medicaid eligible patients cannot be charged an administration fee. If you believe you were incorrectly charged, reach out to the clinic to verify the charge and reach out to the WI VFC Program at VFC@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

If you’re a parent or legal guardian, you can look up your child’s records in Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR). Many people in Wisconsin receive vaccines from more than one VFC location, but WIR has a record of all the vaccines your child received in Wisconsin. Public access to WIR allows you to find your vaccine record quickly and easily from anywhere you have access to a computer or smart phone. For directions on this process, please visit the WIR information webpage.

Yes, all children who have Medicaid as a secondary insurance may receive VFC vaccine. Medicaid will pay the claim for the administration fee and get reimbursement from the primary insurance.