Covid-19 vaccines delayed for about half of US children as access through federal program stalls

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN

(CNN) — The federal government approved updated Covid-19 vaccines for the 2026-27 respiratory virus season last month, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not yet made these vaccines available through a key federal program that covers access for about half of US children.

The Vaccines for Children program provides routine immunizations at no cost to children who are uninsured or underinsured or whose families may not otherwise be able to afford them. About half of US children are eligible for this program, which the CDC says is “one of the nation’s most important contributors to vaccine access.”

But it’s been three weeks since the US Food and Drug Administration approved the updated Covid-19 vaccines, and the CDC has not started the process for states and other jurisdictions to order them through Vaccines for Children. The delay was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Retail pharmacies have received both flu and Covid-19 shots for the new respiratory virus season. CVS started receiving Covid-19 vaccines for adults in early September, about a week after FDA approval, a spokesperson said. Pediatric vaccines — available in some pharmacy locations — began arriving last week. A pediatric Covid-19 vaccine would cost $149.99 out-of-pocket with no insurance coverage, CVS said.

Dr. Michelle Fiscus, chief medical officer of the Association of Immunization Managers, said there is always some delay between when seasonal vaccines are available commercially and when they are available through Vaccines for Children, but the “environment we’re currently living in” has raised anxiety for some about when access through the program will kick in.

“Either way, lack of vaccines in the field means parents can’t choose to protect their children and that some kids have access while others don’t,” she said in a message to CNN.

Flu vaccines had some manufacturer-related delays but are available commercially and through government programs.

A spokesperson for the US Department of Health and Human Services said the CDC is “finalizing decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccine procurement through the Vaccines for Children and Section 317 programs, and additional information will be available soon.” Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act is another avenue through which the federal government can support immunization, by providing grants to states to immunize underserved populations and other resources.

The spokesperson said Covid-19 “does not follow the same predictable seasonal pattern as influenza and other respiratory viruses,” with varying activity by region and increases throughout the year. “Accordingly, an arbitrary September date should not be treated as a public-health deadline for COVID-19 vaccine procurement,” the statement said.

But Covid-19 levels have been climbing for weeks. During the first week of September, Covid-19 accounted for a higher share of emergency department visits in the US than it had since February and more hospitalizations than there had been since March, according to data compiled by PopHIVE.

The HHS spokesperson also said that “HHS and CDC have a responsibility to ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources and that vaccines procured through federally funded programs are appropriate for the populations those programs serve.”

The CDC hasn’t issued new recommendations for Covid-19 vaccines for this season. Last year, the agency updated Covid-19 vaccine guidance to shift away from a broad recommendation, instead saying that patients must consult with a healthcare provider to get the vaccine.

The American Medical Association and the University of Minnesota’s Vaccine Integrity Project released their own independent reviews of this fall’s vaccines this month. They recommend a Covid-19 vaccine for all infants between 6 months and 23 months of age, and children in certain high-risk groups or those whose families request vaccination.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) must formally vote to recommend a vaccine before it can be covered and distributed through the Vaccines for Children program, but the panel has been in disarray since March, when a federal judge temporarily blocked an HHS overhaul of the vaccine schedule and ruled that Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to replace committee members last year did not follow federal legal procedures. ACIP hasn’t met since.

“For decades, our nation’s immunization system has helped ensure that every child can receive lifesaving vaccines, regardless of where they live, their family’s income, or their insurance status,” Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said in a statement.

“The Administration promised that changes to the federal vaccine process would not interfere with families’ ability to access recommended vaccines, yet that is exactly what is occurring,” he said. “Children cannot benefit from vaccines that are delayed or out of reach, and policymakers should be focused on removing obstacles, not creating new ones.”

In June, HHS filed a motion requesting that the courts expedite proceedings in the lawsuit affecting ACIP.

“Our policy changes preserved access and coverage. But the court’s order has left ACIP unable to carry out its core responsibilities,” Kennedy said in a post on X at the time. “As a result, the committee cannot issue new recommendations, review newly approved vaccines, or complete important work ahead of the fall flu season.

“Our appeal seeks to restore a functioning ACIP so the vaccine recommendation process can continue, and families, physicians, and public health programs have the guidance they need.”

Speaking Thursday at the conference of the anti-vaccine organization Children’s Health Defense, Kennedy acknowledged that litigation is continuing but repeated an argument he often makes: “We have not taken vaccines away from anyone.”

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.