After a delay of nearly a month, US states can now order this season's COVID-19 vaccines through a federal program that provides free shots to low-income children — but the administration still has not given a clear explanation for the hold-up.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had not opened ordering for 2026–2027 COVID-19 vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program, even though the Food and Drug Administration approved the shots in late August. Asked about the pause, the Department of Health and Human Services told Ars Technica that “CDC has not yet finalized procurement decisions,” adding that it was committed to ensuring federally purchased vaccines are “appropriate for the populations those programs serve.”
Reporting by The Washington Post indicated that part of the delay involved finalising the CDC's clinical guidance, which needed review by an external expert, and that career officials had already prepared the rollout — leaving leadership essentially needing to “push a button.” A spokesperson for Minnesota's health department said the state had been told that CDC leadership approval was required before distribution could begin.
The episode follows years of attacks on COVID-19 vaccines by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has falsely called them the “deadliest vaccine[s] ever made” and, last year, unilaterally revoked the CDC's universal recommendation for them. A federal court order in March halted other changes to CDC vaccine recommendations.
The newly posted clinical guidance states that, “because of legal uncertainties and inquiries,” the July 2025 recommendations remain in effect for the 2026–2027 respiratory season. Those differ from the recommendations of leading medical groups, which advise vaccinating all infants aged 6 to 23 months and older children who are at higher risk or who want the vaccine.
