The California VFC Program offers a choice of vaccine brands and presentations, such as single-dose vials or manufacturer-filled, single-dose syringes. Selection is at the discretion of providers. Only one brand within the same vaccine family may be ordered to prevent administration errors.
Routine Vaccines
- Locations must maintain an adequate supply of all age-appropriate, ACIP-recommended vaccines for their patient population—excluding influenza, which is allocated separately.
- Follow VFC guidance to plan for the impact requested brand changes (PDF) can have on ordering, storage, administration and documentation.
- Locations must submit orders according to their assigned order frequency (see myCAvax Program Location).
- Locations may use the Ordering Worksheet to confirm recommended order sizes.
- Schedule ordering to ensure sufficient inventory is on hand during order processing.
- Allow extra time for order processing during peak ordering periods (“back-to-school”, flu season and during new vaccine launch).
- Submit vaccine order requests in myCAvax.
Influenza Vaccines
Unlike other routine vaccines, providers must pre-book in myCAvax to request flu vaccine doses and brand preference for the upcoming respiratory season to help identify the total need for California and guide VFC’s pre-booking with CDC. Providers that pre-booked receive initial shipments automatically. Watch for detailed instructions and pre-book timeline in the annual VFC Program influenza letter.
RSV Vaccines
All VFC providers that serve VFC-eligible children 19 months of age or younger are required to carry RSV monoclonal antibody products at the start of RSV season, which typically begins October 1. As with flu vaccine, providers pre-book in myCAvax. Pre-booking determines provider demand in advance and helps streamline the shipment of doses as supply becomes available. Watch for detailed instructions and the pre-book timeline in the annual VFC Program RSV letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
See separate Flu Vaccine Order FAQs.
Vaccine Orders
How do I confirm vaccine order status?
Locations can track vaccine shipments in myCAvax. For questions, contact VFC Customer Service at 1-877-2GET-VFC (877-243-8832) or see weekly order processing updates.
How often can I order?
Login to myCAvax to view your program location’s ordering frequency. Your ordering period will range from one to three months, depending on the number of vaccine doses your practice receives annually.
- High volume providers receive more than 2,000 doses of vaccines per year, may submit a vaccine request every month, and may order up to 12 times per year.
- Medium volume providers receive 500-2,000 doses of vaccines per year, may submit a vaccine request every 2 months, and may order up to 6 times per year.
- Low volume providers receive fewer than 500 doses of vaccines per year, may submit a vaccine request every 3 months, and may order up to 4 times per year.
How do I find out if VFC received my order?
An email confirmation is immediately sent to the program location’s Vaccine Coordinator and Backup after an order is submitted. If you did not receive an email, please call VFC Customer Service at 1-877-2GET-VFC (877-243-8832) to speak with a representative.
What should I do if VFC denies my vaccine order request?
Do not ignore it! VFC will not approve your vaccine request until any problems have been corrected, typically missing or incomplete information, discrepancies with reported administered doses or inventory on hand or inappropriate vaccine requests. Orders will be deleted if the required information is not corrected and resubmitted within 14 days.
Can I submit an additional order if I forgot to order a vaccine?
Please note that VFC discourages supplemental orders. If you need to order more vaccines, submit a new order and write “Supplemental” in the comments box on the bottom of the order. If the last VFC order was more than 30 days ago (20 days for high-volume providers), locations must report full vaccine usage and inventory to prevent accountability errors. However, if the last routine order was within the past 30 days (or 20 days for high-volume providers), only report usage and inventory for vaccines being requested.
I am out of vaccine and need more immediately. What should I do?
If you unexpectedly need more vaccine, call VFC Customer Service at 1-877-2GET-VFC (877-243-8832) and say that you will be submitting a supplemental vaccine order. Tracking your vaccines usage closely, however, will help to prevent this situation. If you think you will need more vaccine than usual for a certain order period, e.g., flu season, or “back-to-school,” try to anticipate the quantities you will need and order accordingly.
Does VFC provide single-antigen measles, mumps and rubella?
No, VFC does not supply single-antigen measles, mumps, or rubella vaccine.
Vaccine Distribution
How long will it take to receive my order?
Allow four weeks for order processing and delivery though shipments often arrive within two weeks. Always maintain a four-week supply of vaccine to ensure an adequate vaccine supply. Order processing may take longer during peak periods.
Why didn’t my Varicella arrive with the other vaccines in my order?
Merk ships frozen varicella-containing vaccines directly to your practice. All other refrigerated vaccines are shipped separately by VFC’s national vaccine distributor, McKesson Specialty.
How do I return shipping containers to McKesson?
McKesson Specialty ships vaccines with a postage-paid return label packed in the inside flaps of the box. Instructions for returning the shipping container to McKesson are on the return slip. If you receive a shipping container that does not include a return label, contact VFC Customer Service,1-877-2GET-VFC (877-243-8832), to request a label. If your clinic receives routine UPS deliveries, you can return the shipping containers by giving them to your UPS delivery person. Locations are encouraged to keep a few shipping containers on hand for return non-viable vaccines to McKesson.
What do I do if doses received doesn't match doses on packing slips?
Immediately report any shipment incidents at myCAvax the same day shipments arrive. CDPH will review all reported shipment incidents and contact the shipper on the provider’s behalf.
Additional Resources