NCDHHS Launches New Vaccine Provider Map

Raleigh --   Press Release North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services: As families across North Carolina prepare for summer camps and back-to-school requirements, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is making it easier for those who are eligible to find free childhood vaccines through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program by launching a new VFC provider map.

The VFC program provides free vaccines for eligible children and teens, covering all those recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including those required for child care and school in North Carolina. Families could save hundreds of dollars per child compared to out-of-pocket vaccine costs.

To make accessing these vaccines easier, NCDHHS launched a new interactive map on VaccinesForKids.nc.gov (English) and VacunasParaNinos.nc.gov (Spanish).

The new interactive map makes it easier for families and community health workers to find local VFC providers who offer free vaccines. Users can search by city or ZIP code and connect with nearby providers.

In addition to the map, families can also:

Check eligibility for free vaccines
Access clear, up-to-date information on required and recommended vaccines
Find answers to common questions about vaccine safety and more

"Vaccines protect what matters most – your child's health," said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. "We know parents want to make the best choices for their children and encourage them to talk to their child's doctor if they have questions. As we continue to prioritize the health and well-being of our youngest North Carolinians, vaccines remain one of the most powerful tools we have to protect children from serious, preventable diseases."

NCDHHS understands that families may have questions and encourages everyone to have conversations with their healthcare providers. To support these important conversations, the Department will continue to provide clinics with new bilingual toolkits, training materials and resources to help guide families through their vaccine decisions.

Why It Matters:

The ongoing outbreak in the US reminds us that vaccine-preventable diseases still pose serious risks. Vaccines protect children from illnesses that can be severe or even life-threatening. Delaying or skipping vaccines leaves kids vulnerable.

"We understand that parents want to feel confident and informed," said Dr. Kelly Kimple, Interim State Health Director/Chief Medical Officer and Acting Director of the Division of Public Health. "The VFC program is about giving parents the tools and support they need to protect their children — at no cost to them."

Learn more or find a provider near you at VaccinesForKids.nc.gov 

As North Carolina families prepare for summer camps and school registration requirements, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is making it easier for eligible families to find free vaccines for their children. These vaccines are available through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program with the launch of a new program provider map.

The VFC program provides free vaccines for eligible children and adolescents, including all vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including those required for childcare and school attendance in North Carolina. Families can save hundreds of dollars per child compared to paying out-of-pocket.

To make these vaccines easier to access, NCDHHS launched a new interactive map on the VaccinesForKids.nc.gov website (in English) and VacunasParaNinos.nc.gov (in Spanish).

The new interactive map makes it easier for families and community health workers to find local VFC providers offering free vaccines. Users can search by city or zip code and connect with providers near them.

In addition to the map, families can also:

Check your eligibility for free vaccines
Access up-to-date, easy-to-understand information about required and recommended vaccines
Find answers to frequently asked questions about vaccine safety and more
"Vaccines protect what matters most: the health of your children," said North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. "We know families want to make the best choices for their children and encourage them to talk to their pediatrician if they have questions. As we continue to prioritize the health and well-being of our youngest North Carolinians, vaccines remain one of the most powerful tools we have to protect children from serious, preventable diseases."

NCDHHS understands that families may have questions and encourages everyone to talk with their healthcare provider. To support these important conversations, the Department will continue to offer clinics new bilingual resources, training materials, and tools to guide families in their vaccine decisions.

Why is it important? 

The ongoing measles outbreak in the United States reminds us that vaccine-preventable diseases remain a serious risk. Vaccines protect children from diseases that can be serious or even fatal. Delaying or skipping vaccines leaves children vulnerable.

"We understand that families want to feel safe and well-informed," said Dr. Kelly Kimple, acting State Health Officer, Chief Medical Officer, and acting director of the Division of Public Health. "The VFC program exists to give families the tools and support they need to protect their children—at no cost."

To learn more or find a provider near you, visit  VaccinesForChildren.nc.gov

Mientras las familias de Carolina del Norte se preparan para los campamentos de verano y los requisitos de inscripción escolar, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) está facilitando a aquellas familias que son elegibles a encontrar vacunas gratuitas para sus niños. Estas vacunas están disponibles por medio del programa Vacunas para Niños (“Vaccines for Children”, o VFC, por sus siglas en inglés) con el lanzamiento de un nuevo mapa de proveedores de este programa.

El programa VFC proporciona vacunas gratuitas para niños y adolescentes que son elegibles, incluyendo todas las vacunas recomendadas por los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés), incluso las que son obligatorias para asistir a centros de cuidado infantil y escuelas en Carolina del Norte. Las familias pueden ahorrar cientos de dólares por cada niño en comparación con pagar de su bolsillo.

Para facilitar el acceso a estas vacunas, el NCDHHS lanzó un nuevo mapa interactivo en el sitio web VaccinesForKids.nc.gov  (en inglés) y  VacunasParaNinos.nc.gov (en español).

El nuevo mapa interactivo facilita a las familias y trabajadores de salud comunitarios a encontrar proveedores locales del programa VFC que ofrecen vacunas gratuitas. Los usuarios pueden buscar por ciudad o código postal y conectar con proveedores cerca de ellos.

Además del mapa, las familias también pueden:

Chequear su elegibilidad para recibir vacunas gratuitas
Acceder a información actualizada y fácil de entender sobre las vacunas que son necesarias y recomendadas
Encontrar respuestas a preguntas frecuentes sobre la seguridad de las vacunas y más
"Las vacunas protegen lo que más importa: la salud de sus niños", dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Dev Sangvai. "Sabemos que las familias quieren tomar las mejores decisiones para sus niños y los animamos a hablar con su pediatra si tienen preguntas. A medida que continuamos priorizando la salud y el bienestar de nuestros habitantes más jóvenes de Carolina del Norte, las vacunas siguen siendo una de las herramientas más poderosas que tenemos para proteger a los niños de enfermedades graves y prevenibles."

El NCDHHS entiende que las familias podrían tener preguntas y motiva a todas las personas a hablar con su proveedor de salud. Para apoyar estas conversaciones importantes, el Departamento seguirá ofreciendo a las clínicas nuevos recursos bilingües, materiales de capacitación y herramientas para guiar a las familias en sus decisiones sobre las vacunas.

¿Por qué es importante? 

El brote de sarampión que continúa en Estados Unidos nos recuerda que las enfermedades prevenibles con vacunas siguen siendo un riesgo serio. Las vacunas protegen a los niños de enfermedades que pueden ser graves o incluso mortales. Retrasar o saltarse vacunas deja a los niños vulnerables.

"Entendemos que las familias quieran sentirse seguras y bien informadas," dijo la Dra. Kelly Kimple, directora interina de Salud Estatal, jefa médica y directora interina de la División de Salud Pública. "El programa VFC existe para darles a las familias las herramientas y el apoyo que ellos necesitan para proteger a sus niños — sin costo alguno."

Para aprender más o encontrar un proveedor cercano, visite VacunasParaNinos.nc.gov