BACKGROUND:
The Vaccine for Children (VFC) Program was transferred from the Indiana State Medical Association (ISMA) to the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) effective January 1, 2000. All vaccine ordering, distribution, and accountability processes are administered through ISDH. The VFC enrollment program has one supervisor and three staff members who enroll and educate providers.

OBJECTIVE:
The objectives of this program are to enroll Indiana's immunization providers in the Vaccine for Children program and to offer educational opportunities such as Immunizations from A to Z program or other in-service training. A key to the enrollment process is a personal visit from the enrollment staff.

METHOD:
- Increase awareness of the Vaccine for Children program in Indiana
- Procedures for VFC enrollments
1- Initial call
2- Pre-enrollment site visit
A. Explanation of the program
B. Explanation of the binder
3- Visit Completion
4- Follow-up call

RESULT:
- There have been 406 providers enrolled from January 2000 to November 17, 2004.
- Immunization providers welcomed the educational offerings provided through the VFC Program. An Immunizations from A to Z program was developed in March 2003 to broaden our educational outreach.
- Indiana's immunization rates have increased over the past four years, from 74.8% in 2000 to 77.8% in 2003, based on National Immunization Survey data.

CONCLUSION:
The enrollment and educational programs have been successful. The state's immunization coverage rate has steadily improved. Indiana was recognized at the National Immunization Conference for being the state with the second greatest improvement in vaccination coverage of two-year olds since 1999.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Participants will learn how to begin or improve their Vaccine for Children enrollment program as well as how to develop a beneficial VFC educational program.