WASHINGTON, D.C – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King have announced the award of $1.181 million for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).  The grant, which was awarded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, will help provide free immunizations to eligible low-income children under the age of 18.
 
“Vaccines are essential for protecting children from a variety of serious infections and diseases, and they are a vital tool for maintaining public health,” said Senators Collins and King.  “The Vaccines for Children Program benefits children who might otherwise lack access to these important immunizations.”    
     
The VFC Program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children from low-income families.  The CDC buys vaccines at a discount and distributes them to grantees, such as state health departments and certain local and territorial public health agencies.  Grantees distribute vaccines at no charge to private physicians' offices and public health clinics registered as VFC providers.

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