BACKGROUND:
The Vaccines for Children Program provided training to private providers prior to CY 2002. However, the materials had not been developed into a training manual format. The use of a top-down flowchart allows the VFC Program to share materials with providers in a concise, user-friendly manner.

OBJECTIVE:
The objective of the development of the VFC Top-Down Flowchart and Procedures is to provide the VFC private providers with a comprehensive manual which contains materials pertinent to the VFC Program. The manual contains the following sections: VFC Provider Enrollment; Processing VFC Provider Monthly Doses Used and Inventory on Hand Reports; Vaccine Storage and Handling Requirements and Short Dated Vaccines; VAERS; and VFC/AFIX Visits and CASA.

METHOD:
This information is presented to the VFC private providers through local and regional training sessions held across the State, usually at a luncheon or dinner program.

RESULT:
As a result of the implementation of the training sessions in CY 2002, more than 200 VFC private provider contacts attended training sessions and each attendee received a manual that could be shared with other staff members and could be used as reference material regarding VFC Program Protocol and, in general, vaccine management.

CONCLUSION:
VFC providers that have attended trainings sessions are better equipped and prepared to manage their vaccine inventories and immunization practices.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Our objectives in providing these training opportunities are to enhance the VFC provider’s understanding of the VFC Protocol, which includes, but is not limited to, enrollment, eligibility criteria, monthly vaccine reporting, proper vaccine storage and handling procedures, vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS), and VFC/AFIX site visits.