States Can Order COVID-19 Vaccines for Low-Income Children After Delay

States can now order COVID-19 vaccines for the 2026–2027 season through the federal Vaccines for Children program, ending a delay of nearly a month after the shots received Food and Drug Administration approval in late August.

The program provides free immunizations to eligible children, including those from low-income families. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had not opened ordering as of Wednesday, when the Department of Health and Human Services told Ars Technica that the CDC had “not yet finalized procurement decisions.” HHS said the agencies were committed to ensuring that vaccines bought through federally funded programs were appropriate for the populations they serve.

The Washington Post reported later Wednesday that ordering was opening. An unnamed source told the newspaper that the delay was partly related to finalizing the CDC’s clinical guidance for health care professionals and public health officials, which reportedly required review by an outside expert.

According to the Post, CDC career staff had already completed preparations to make the vaccines available. A Minnesota Department of Health spokesperson said the state had been told CDC leadership approval was required before distribution could begin. Federal officials did not provide a detailed public explanation for the timing of the decision.