CDC opens state ordering for COVID-19 vaccines after unexplained delay

September 25, 2026 at 03:29 AM2 min

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The CDC opened state ordering for COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday after an unexplained delay. HHS confirmed the ordering is now open but did not explain the cause or resolution of the delay. The move comes as legal uncertainties leave July 2025 vaccine recommendations in effect for the 2026-2027 season.

Key Facts

HHS confirmed Thursday that state ordering for COVID-19 vaccines is now open.
HHS did not respond to questions about what caused the delay or how it was resolved.
A federal judge's March order halted changes to CDC vaccine recommendations, leaving July 2025 recommendations in effect.
CDC clinical guidance updated Wednesday states July 2025 recommendations remain in effect for the 2026-2027 respiratory illness season.
Leading medical groups recommend COVID-19 vaccination for all infants 6-23 months old and for children 2-18 at higher risk or if desired.

Ordering Resumption

The CDC opened state ordering for COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday after an unexplained delay. HHS confirmed the ordering is now open but did not answer questions about the cause or resolution of the delay. The delay follows years of attacks by Health Secretary Kennedy on COVID-19 vaccines, including false claims they are the deadliest vaccines ever made. Last year, Kennedy unilaterally revoked the CDC's universal recommendations for the vaccines.

Legal Uncertainty

A federal judge's order in March halted other changes Kennedy and his allies had made to CDC vaccine recommendations. That leaves the CDC's current recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines where they were in July 2025. At that point, the vaccines were recommended for children 6 months to 17 years old who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. Healthy children in that age group were recommended to obtain them through shared clinical decision-making.

Guidance Discrepancy

The newly approved CDC clinical guidance added an update Wednesday stating that July 2025 recommendations remain in effect for the 2026-2027 respiratory illness season. Those recommendations differ from those of leading medical groups. Leading medical groups recommend that all infants 6 months to 23 months old get vaccinated against COVID-19. Children 2 to 18 years old should be vaccinated if they are at higher risk or if they desire to be vaccinated.