Immunization program services are provided through six (6) major program components, which are outlined below:

•     Vaccines for Children
•     District of Columbia Immunization Information Registry System (DOCIIS)
•     School and Licensed Child Development Center Compliance Assessments 
•     Vaccine Preventable Disease Surveillance
•     Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program

Vaccines for Children

• Supplies free vaccines to providers that vaccinate children who:
  • Are eligible for Medicaid,
  • Have no health insurance,
  • Have health insurance that doesn't cover immunizations,
    or
  • Are Native American or Alaskan Native,
  • Provides technical assistance on how providers can improve vaccination rates
  • Provides training to providers on vaccine storage and handling
  • Provides access to the District's online immunization information system (DOCIIS)

VFC also:

• Conducts assessments for children in licensed child-care, Head Start Centers and in all schools and grades.
• Conducts an annual retrospective survey from kindergarten school entry data to assess completion of initial vaccine series by 2 years of age.
• Identifies and investigates cases and controls outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases (VPD), measures VPD morbidity and mortality, and evaluates the impact of new vaccines and immunization policies.
• Identifies hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) pregnant women and prevents perinatal hepatitis B transmission.
• Monitors the safety of immunizations and ensures that all providers of immunizations report adverse events according to state and/or local public health policies.
• Maintains an immunization registry that serves as a storehouse for immunization records for children and adults in the District of Columbia, enabling the Department of Health to keep children updated for immunization, provide follow-up when needed, conduct outbreak control, provide records for daycare and school entry and prevent unnecessary immunizations because of lost records.

District of Columbia Immunization Registry Information System (DOCIIS)

• Centrally stores immunization records for children and adults in the District of Columbia
• Tracks immunization compliance and provides immunization data and reports
• Provides online access to trainings to immunization histories.

Outreach and Education

• Collects and disseminates vaccine information statements and other educational materials to providers, consumers and lay audiences
• Conducts educational seminars for providers, and lay audiences

Assessment

• Reviews and determines compliance with DC Immunization Laws 3-12 of the immunization records of all children in licensed child development centers, Head Start centers and all grades in public, private, charter and parochial schools in DC.

Surveillance

• Conducts investigation, tracking and reporting of vaccine preventable diseases.

Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program

• Identifies and tracks pregnant women infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
• Ensures appropriate preventive treatment for newborns of infected mothers from birth through the 1st year of life
• Refers household and sexual contacts of identified women for Hepatitis B screening