How to Pay for Vaccines for Children

It is parents' legal right to immunize or not immunize their children.

Vaccinations are given to children based on a schedule devised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccines help prevent a child from contracting a disease that can cause death or have serious medical complications. With the introduction of vaccines, the spread of many diseases has been greatly reduced. Paying for vaccines can be a burden on some families without health insurance or money to afford the co-pays. There are ways to obtain vaccines at little to no charge under certain circumstances.

Instructions

1. Contact your local Vaccines for Children (VFC) representative by visiting cdc.gov and selecting your state. According to the CDC, federal funds are allocated to provide immunizations free of charge to physicians or clinics. The immunizations are then to be used for children who are uninsured, underinsured or those who qualify for Medicaid.

2. Ask the VFC representative if you qualify for free immunizations for your children. Answer the questions asked to determine your eligibility. If you are not eligible, ask if she has any other organizations you may contact for low cost or free immunizations. The eligibility questions are to see if you qualify for Medicaid, have insurance and if you do have insurance, whether you are considered underinsured.

3. Contact your doctor, and ask for referrals to low-cost immunization clinics. Each state offers immunization clinics at no cost. These clinics may be held at a public health fair, various locations throughout the state or at your local health department. This offers the opportunity to immunize your children for a very low cost. Ask if your doctor would accept payments to take care of your children's immunizations if there isn't a clinic in the near future and your children need the immunizations now.

4. Call your local health department. Health departments often have health care professionals available, on certain days and times, to provide immunizations to those who cannot afford it.

5. Ask extended family members for a loan to pay for the immunizations. Be prepared to pay back the loan. Relationships are often damaged or destroyed when money is not repaid as agreed.

6. Charge the fees for the immunizations to a credit card and make the payments to the credit card company.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Vaccines & Immunizations
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: VFC for Parents

Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: VFC: State/Territory -- VFC Coordinators