Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program Update: Vaccine Inventory Guidance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program guidance. This new guidance, shared below, went into effect July 1, 2025, and supersedes the guidance issued April 2024 (VFC Provider Communication titled “Private Supply COVID-19 Vaccine and Nirsevimab Inventory Extension”).

VFC Vaccine Inventory Update

VFC providers must stock all routine Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)-recommended vaccines for VFC-eligible patients, with an exception for COVID-19 vaccine. VFC providers are not required to include COVID-19 vaccines in their VFC vaccine orders.

VFC providers who do not order COVID-19 vaccines should have a process to refer VFC patients that are interested in COVID-19 vaccine to another VFC provider that will provide the COVID-19 vaccine. Please be sure to confirm the receiving VFC provider has VFC COVID-19 vaccine and that the receiving provider will accept the patient prior to referral. This referral process should be included in the VFC provider’s vaccine management plan.

This new federal guidance regarding COVID-19 vaccine may affect outstanding follow-up from a past VFC compliance site visit. The Ohio VFC program will communicate with affected providers regarding these follow-up items.

Private Vaccine Inventory Update

VFC providers who vaccinate privately insured (non-VFC-eligible) patients must maintain a separate private stock of vaccines that are clearly labeled as private vaccine stock and be clearly separately from VFC stock within each vaccine storage unit. 

VFC providers are now only required to maintain a private stock of vaccines that they intend to administer to non-VFC eligible patients. If a VFC provider does not intend to offer a particular vaccine (e.g. COVID-19 vaccine) to non-VFC eligible patients, the provider is not required to maintain a private supply of that vaccine.

VFC vaccine stock must only be used for VFC-eligible patients. It is not permissible to intentionally borrow VFC vaccines for private pay, non-VFC-eligible individuals.

Please review these updates with your team and adjust your vaccine inventory and referral practices accordingly.

Vaccine Management Plan Updated

An updated Vaccines for Children (VFC) Ohio Vaccine Management Plan has been posted to the Ohio VFC website.  The updated version addresses storage and handling of vaccines for temporary offsite clinics.

August VFC Education Webinar

The next VFC education webinar is scheduled for Thursday August 14, 2025, at 12 noon.  Information will be emailed closer to the date of the session.

If you have any questions, contact the Ohio VFC Program at 1-800-282-0546.

Thank you for your continued partnership to protect Ohio’s children through vaccination.