CDC delays COVID-19 vaccine orders for children in 11 states and one territory

September 24, 2026 at 03:17 AM2 min

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The CDC has delayed distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to the Vaccines for Children program, affecting 52 percent of US children. At least 11 states and one territory that purchase vaccines for all children through the program are also affected. The delay comes as respiratory virus season nears and fall vaccination drives begin.

Key Facts

The CDC has not finalized procurement decisions for COVID-19 vaccines through the Vaccines for Children and Section 317 programs.
Approximately 52 percent of all US children are eligible for vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program.
At least 11 states and one US territory participate in a universal vaccine purchase program that relies on VFC contracts.
The 11 states and one territory include Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming, and American Samoa.
HHS and CDC said additional information about the decision will be released soon.

Vaccine Access Delay

The CDC has unexpectedly delayed distribution of the newly available seasonal COVID-19 vaccines to the Vaccines for Children program. The delay affects more than half of US children who are eligible for free vaccines through the program. At least 11 states and one territory that purchase vaccines for all children through VFC contracts are also impacted. Demetre Daskalakis, former director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said the delay means delays in these states' ability to get vaccine for all children.

HHS Response

The Department of Health and Human Services said the CDC has not yet finalized procurement decisions for COVID-19 vaccines through the Vaccines for Children and Section 317 programs. HHS declined to answer why there was a delay in the decision. The department's statement suggested that Trump officials were questioning whether children should get the vaccine. HHS said it is committed to ensuring that vaccines purchased through federally funded programs are appropriate for the populations those programs serve.