Vaccines for Children (VFC) program

The Vaccines for Children program is a federally funded program that provides FREE vaccines (including ALL USCIS-required immigration vaccines) to children who otherwise might not be vaccinated because of inability to pay. Immigration status is NOT a factor.

Who is eligible

Children under age 19 who meet ANY of:

  • Medicaid-eligible — enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid
  • Uninsured — no health insurance
  • Underinsured — has health insurance, but plan does not cover vaccines or does not cover specific vaccines (administered only at FQHCs and RHCs)
  • American Indian / Alaska Native — eligible regardless of insurance

Immigration status is NOT asked. Citizen, lawful resident, undocumented — all eligible if income/insurance criteria met.

What’s covered

All vaccines recommended by ACIP for children:

  • MMR
  • DTaP / Tdap
  • Polio (IPV)
  • Hib
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Varicella
  • Pneumococcal (PCV)
  • Meningococcal
  • Rotavirus
  • Influenza
  • HPV (human papillomavirus)
  • Plus any other ACIP-recommended childhood vaccines

Note: VFC vaccines are FREE, but the provider can charge an administration fee (typically $20–$30 per dose). Medicaid covers this fee for Medicaid-enrolled kids. For other eligible kids, the fee cannot be denied based on inability to pay — by federal rule.

Where to get VFC vaccines

Any provider enrolled in VFC:

  • Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) — always enrolled, sliding-scale fees
  • County / city health departments — usually enrolled
  • Many pediatricians and family doctors — search “VFC provider” plus your zip code
  • School-based health clinics — where available

Find providers: call your state’s VFC coordinator (search “[your state] VFC program”) or local health department.

What to bring

  • Child’s identification (birth certificate, passport, school ID)
  • Any prior vaccination records (yellow international card, US doctor records, school records)
  • Proof of Medicaid OR statement that child is uninsured
  • Proof of guardian’s identity

NO immigration documentation required. Providers will not ask about your or your child’s immigration status. VFC eligibility is based on income/insurance only.

Why this matters for immigration

Children going through adjustment of status (with parent or alone) need the same vaccines for I-693 as adults, in age-appropriate doses. VFC means these vaccines cost $0 for eligible kids, dramatically reducing the financial burden of the immigration medical exam.

Example: a 4-year-old needs MMR, DTaP, Polio, Hib, Hep A, Hep B, Varicella, Pneumococcal, Influenza. At pharmacy retail prices this would be $500–$1,000. Through VFC: $0–$80 in administration fees total.

Adults are NOT covered by VFC

VFC is children under 19 only. Adult immigrants needing vaccines should see:

State variations

Most states call the program simply “VFC” but some have additional state-funded programs that extend coverage to underinsured children (those whose insurance doesn’t cover vaccines fully) at private provider offices, not just FQHCs/RHCs. Search “[your state] CHIP vaccines” or “[your state] vaccines uninsured children”.

Last verified: 2026-09-24.

Source: CDC Vaccines for Children program. General procedural information. Not medical or legal advice.

USCIS Form I-693 medical exam context (2025-2026)

The USCIS Form I-693 (Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record) is required for adjustment-of-status applicants (Form I-485) and certain refugee/asylee categories. Civil Surgeons designated by USCIS conduct the exam. Find a Civil Surgeon at uscis.gov/tools/find-a-civil-surgeon. The civil surgeon sets the exam fee, and fees vary from one civil surgeon to another.

CDC’s Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons (page last updated March 11, 2025) specify required vaccinations: tetanus-diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap/DTaP), MMR (measles-mumps-rubella), polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza (seasonal), pneumococcal (age-dependent), Hib (children), Hepatitis A + B, rotavirus and meningococcal (children). HPV is NOT on the CDC required list — neither is zoster — so no civil surgeon can require an HPV series for immigration purposes. Which vaccines are required depends on the applicant’s age and vaccination history: each must be age-appropriate as recommended by ACIP for the general US population. A Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023 stays valid only while the application it was filed with is pending (USCIS Policy Manual Vol. 8 Pt. B Ch. 4, effective June 11, 2025); one signed before November 1, 2023 keeps evidentiary value for 2 years from the signature date.

Verify the current USCIS Fee Schedule at uscis.gov/g-1055 (Form G-1055) before filing Form I-485. Tuberculosis (TB) screening with an IGRA blood test is required for all I-693 applicants 2+ years old; a chest X-ray is required after a positive IGRA, known HIV infection, or signs or symptoms of TB.

For Civil Surgeon designation questions or vaccination requirement disputes: USCIS Contact Center 1-800-375-5283 Monday-Friday 8:00am-8:00pm Eastern Time. Form I-693 (the civil surgeon places it in a sealed envelope): since December 2, 2024 it must be submitted with Form I-485, or USCIS may reject the I-485 — by mail, in the original sealed envelope; online filers open the envelope, upload the form and keep the original and envelope. If the application your Form I-693 was filed with is withdrawn or denied, you need a newly completed and signed Form I-693 for any future application.

For low-cost / free vaccination sources: community health centers (FQHCs at /benefits/community-health-centers-by-state/) provide vaccines on sliding-fee scale; many counties offer free immunization clinics. CDC Vaccines for Children (VFC) program: 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) for children whose parents/guardians cannot afford vaccines.