In 1965, the United States government assured that all children would receive access to vaccines for common childhood diseases through the passage of the Vaccination Assistance Act. The law created a program that provides federal grants to local authorities for preventive health services, including immunizations.

Nearly three decades later, the federal government expanded the plan by creating the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, enacted as part of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1993.

Today, routine child vaccinations have greatly reduced the incidence of death, disease and suffering among children and brought immense social and economic benefits to the nation. However, the financial infrastructure of this valuable program is not sustainable and has led to severe market inefficiencies.

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