North Carolina is a universal immunization state, meaning the state provides all required vaccines to public and private medical providers for all children from birth through 18 years of age at no charge. The North Carolina Immunization Branch created the Universal Childhood Vaccine Distribution Program (UCVDP) as a way to eliminate financial barriers and to ensure proper immunization of all children. In addition, the program provides parents with a way to vaccinate their children through their regular health care provider.

Through this program, vaccines are purchased by the state then distributed to providers at no charge. Providers may not charge their patients for the vaccine, though they may charge a fee for vaccine administration. Currently more than 95% of childhood vaccine providers in the state participate in the UCVDP.

Any health care provider who administers childhood vaccines may participate in the UCVDP program. All North Carolina children are eligible to receive state-supplied vaccine as long as they are of the age for which the vaccines are required by the North Carolina Immunization Rules (15A NCAC 19A-0401).

In North Carolina, all children are eligible for required state-supplied vaccines, regardless of their insurance status. Having one program, UCVDP, gives health care providers a seamless ordering system and eliminates the need for keeping two separate stocks of vaccine for these required vaccines.