CDC Allows States to Order COVID-19 Vaccines After Delay

<p>After a delay of nearly one month, states can now order this season's COVID-19 vaccines through a federal program that provides free immunizations to low-income children, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The reason for the delay has not been clearly explained by officials from the previous administration.</p><p>On September 24, 2026, Ars Technica reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had not opened ordering for the 2026–2027 COVID-19 vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program, despite the vaccines receiving approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late August.</p><p>The HHS stated that “CDC has not yet finalized procurement decisions” for the vaccines. The statement also indicated that officials were evaluating whether the vaccines should be administered to children. HHS emphasized its commitment to responsible management of taxpayer resources and ensuring that vaccines purchased through federally funded programs are suitable for the populations served by those programs.</p>