CDC opens state ordering for COVID-19 vaccines after unexplained delay
Health department previously blamed delay on "not yet finalized procurement decisions."
After a nearly month-long delay, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has finally opened up the ordering of this season's COVID-19 vaccines through the federal Vaccines for Children program, according to the US health department. Despite the vaccines having received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late August, states were still unable to place orders for the immunizations.
Trump officials have yet to provide a clear explanation for the prolonged delay, leading to concerns about potential interference from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for his anti-vaccine stance. Ars Technica reported on Wednesday that the CDC had not yet opened up ordering for the 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccines despite their FDA approval.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) clarified to Ars that the CDC had not yet finalized procurement decisions for the vaccines. The statement suggested that Trump officials were questioning whether children should receive the vaccines. HHS and CDC remain committed to responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources and ensuring that vaccines purchased through federally funded programs are appropriate for the populations they serve.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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