Ordering Updates

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Releases Vaccines for Children Program Operations Guide

September 2007 -- This Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program Operations Guide is the first update of the guide since 2002. Since the VFC program became operational in 1994, the budget for this program has risen steadily, and in the year 2007 it is nearing $3 billion. As program costs rise, so does the need to ensure that all aspects of the program are being implemented appropriately. The content of the guide has been updated and significant changes have been made in many areas of the VFC program, including provider enrollment, vaccine management and fraud and abuse. You can find the guide at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/operations-guide.htm.

New Fraud and Abuse Hot Line

September 2007 -- The Florida Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program announces the new Fraud and Abuse Hot Line to report misuse of VFC vaccines. Please call (866) 313-0644 if you have any concerns regarding a provider's use of VFC vaccines.

Vaccines for Children Bulletin Regarding Anticipated Changes to the Vaccine Distribution System in 2008

September 2007 -- In order to improve vaccine management and delivery at the federal, state, and local level, the VFC Program is in its preparatory stage to implement the Vaccine Management Business Improvement Project (VMBIP), which is being launched by the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Implementation of the VMBIP in Florida is planned for early 2008. The goals of VMBIP include:

• Simplified processes for ordering, distribution, and management of vaccines in order to respond quickly and effectively to public health crises related to disease outbreaks, vaccine shortages, and disruption of the vaccine supply.
• A reduction in the lead-time between orders and delivery of vaccine with direct delivery of vaccines to providers.

More information about VMBIP can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ programs/iis/activities/vmbip.htm.

How does this affect the County Health Departments (CHDs) and private VFC providers?

• VFC providers will receive their vaccine shipments from a national distributor.
• Orders will continue to be placed through the Florida VFC Program.
• The Florida VFC Program will continue to be the primary contact for vaccine ordering and management issues.

The Bureau of Immunization will continue to provide updates on this new process as we receive them.

Please note: CHDs will continue to place orders through the VFC Program. The changes will be in supply and delivery.

Vaccines for Children Influenza Resolution No. 2/07-1

March 2007 (Archive) -- The Bureau of Immunization is pleased to announce the release of Vaccines for Children (VFC) Resolution No. 2/07-1. Resolution 2/06-3 is repealed and replaced by resolution Resolution No. 2/07-1, adopted and effective on February 21, 2007. This resolution describes eligible groups for Inactivated Influenza Vaccine and Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine. Resolution No. 2/07-1 states, "All children ages 6 months through 8 years who receive influenza vaccine for the first time should be given two doses. Children who received only one dose in the first year of vaccination should receive two doses in their second year of vaccination."

VFC resolutions passed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) form the basis for VFC Program policies on vaccine availability and usage. VFC vaccine must be administered according to the guidelines outlined by the ACIP in the VFC resolutions. The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year. It's not too late to immunize children and adults against the flu.

Prevention of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis Among Infants and Children: Provisional ACIP Recommendations for Use of Rotavirus Vaccine

2006 (Archive) -- This is an update regarding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for routine immunization of all infants with rotavirus vaccine and its inclusion in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program for VFC-eligible infants. For further information on ACIP recommendations for rotavirus vaccine, please see: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5512a1.htm?s_cid=rr5512a1_e. These recommendations are under review by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services, and will be official when published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The VFC resolution may be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/downloads/resolutions/0206rotavirus.pdf [PDF 28 KB]. The Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm.

Provisional Recommendations for use of Rotavirus Vaccine

2006 (Archive) -- All infants should be immunized with 3 doses of rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq®), administered orally at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. The first dose should be administered between 6 and 12 weeks of age. Subsequent doses should be administered at 4-to-10-week intervals, and all 3 doses of vaccine must be completed by 32 weeks of age.

Please note: Our limited supply of this product may result in County Health Departments receiving fewer doses than requested.  We will notify you of any changes in recommendations as the supply becomes more plentiful.

Important Tdap and MMR/Varicella Vaccine Update and Ordering Instructions

2005 (Archive) -- The Bureau of Immunization is pleased to announce the addition of new vaccines to the list of products available through the Florida Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program. This update discusses the recommendations for the new tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, and for the new combination vaccine measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV).

Tdap Vaccine: On June 30, 2005, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend the routine use of Tdap vaccines in adolescents 11 to 18 years of age in place of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td) vaccines. The primary objective of the adolescent pertussis booster vaccination program is to protect adolescents against pertussis. Additional information on this new recommendation can be found in the VFC/ACIP resolution at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/downloads/resolutions/605dtap.pdf [PDF 146 KB].

Florida's VFC Program is making Tdap vaccine available during the first quarter of 2006. VFC-eligible adolescents 11 to 18 years of age can receive a single dose of Tdap instead of Td for booster immunization against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis if they have completed the recommended childhood DTP/DTaP vaccination series and have not received Td or Tdap. The recommended age for Tdap vaccination is 11 to 12 years; routinely administering Tdap to young adolescents will reduce the morbidity associated with pertussis in adolescents.