Provider Online Education

Vaccine for Children Program

Provider Temperature Log

VFC Forms
Storage and Handling FAQs
CDC's Storage and Handling Resources
Digital Thermometer Instructions
Vaccine Ordering FAQs
Vaccine Shipment Information

County Coverage Rates

New Mexico and U.S. National Rates

Vaccines for Children Program

General Info On the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC)

What's New in VFC?

Vaccine Update

VFC Forms

General Information on the Vaccines for Children Program

Proper management and storage of vaccines is critical to maintaining their biological potency. The CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit is designed to provide guidance to immunization providers on aspects of vaccine storage and handling, transportation, equipment, standard operating procedures and training for personnel.

Reference the CDC's Storage and Handling Resources on this page for more information.

Select the Storage and Handling Toolkit for a presentation on vaccine management. The toolkit requires Windows Media 9 Player, Macromedia Flash 7 Player, and Acrobat Reader 6. For installation information, go to the Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit Help and Installation.

Also, reference the booklet, New Mexico VFC Vaccine Storage and Handling Guide, for more information.

What's New in VFC?

Effective vaccination requires adherence to specific protocols for each vaccine that define appropriate routes of administration, numbers of shots needed and intervals between shots, when vaccination is not recommended, and who should not receive them.

The 2009 NM Department of Health Immunization Protocols contains approved protocols for childhood vaccines, including DTaP, Dt, Td, Tdap , inactivated Polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Varicella, Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Meningococcal conjugate, Rotavirus, and HPV.

Vaccine Updates

HPV is the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer, precancerous genital lesians, and genital warts due to HPV. HPV is the most common sexually-transmitted infection in the U.S., and the leading cause of cervical cancer in women. Three 0.5 ml doses should be delivered through a series of intra-muscular injections over a six-month period. The second and third doses should be given two and six months after the first dose. New Mexico VFC HPV vaccine use is currently recommended for girls 11 to 12 years old, and may be given to girls up to 18 years of age, based on the clinical judgement of their physicians.

The New Mexico HPV Administration Guidelines provide guidance for clinical decisions on which patients should receive HPV.

See the New Mexico Medical Society/DOH HPV Fact Sheet for more information,