WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has been awarded a total of $3,023,728 to help provide free immunizations to eligible low-income children throughout Maine, according to a news release.

This funding was awarded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Immunization and Vaccines for Children Program (VFC).

The VFC program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children from low-income families, the release noted.

The program protects individuals and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases through provision of federal funds and contracts to purchase and distribute vaccines, vaccine preventable disease surveillance, provider and public education, and evaluation.