In October of 1994, the Illinois Department of Public Health launched Vaccine for Children Plus (VFC Plus) to provide free vaccines to children enrolled in Medicaid, those without health insurance and those without adequate health insurance for vaccinations. Today, nearly 700 doctors and medical facilities in suburban Cook County have joined the VFC Plus program.
VFC Plus reduces cost as a barrier to vaccination and enables better access to health care. Many children are not vaccinated because their parents either do not have health insurance, or their health insurance does not cover vaccinations. For the many who qualify for the no-cost vaccines provided through the VFC program, cost as a barrier to immunization is no longer a problem. All routine childhood immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) are available through VFC Plus. If there are any questions or concerns regarding VFC Plus, please feel free to contact the Vaccine Preventable Disease Unit at (708) 492-2150.
