US states reportedly cannot yet order COVID-19 shots for children through a federal program

Procurement decisions for VFC remain pending

Ars Technica reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not yet finalized procurement decisions for seasonal COVID-19 vaccines through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program and Section 317.

VFC provides vaccines without charge to US children who are uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid-eligible, or Indigenous. The report says the delay affects state ordering and may also delay access in states and a US territory that purchase vaccines for all children through related arrangements.

States would ordinarily be able to order newly available seasonal COVID-19 vaccines for eligible children through the federal Vaccines for Children program.

According to the report, CDC has not finalized procurement decisions for COVID-19 vaccines through the Vaccines for Children and Section 317 programs, delaying the usual route for state orders.

Around 52 percent of children are eligible

About 52 percent of US children are eligible for VFC vaccines, so a disruption to the program’s usual ordering process could affect access for a large share of children. The scope and consequences described remain unverified.