Federal regulators approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2026–27 respiratory season in late August, but about three weeks later the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had still not opened ordering through the Vaccines for Children program that covers roughly half of U.S. children, CNN (opens in new tab) reported on Sept. 17, citing a delay first reported by the Wall Street Journal (opens in new tab).
Healthline (opens in new tab) reported that on Aug. 27 the Food and Drug Administration announced approvals of four updated shots—Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty, Moderna’s Spikevax and mNexspike, and Novavax’s Nuvaxovid—each designed to target the JN.1-lineage XFG variant. Eligibility varies by product but generally covers adults 65 and older and younger people with higher-risk underlying conditions.
Vaccines for Children supplies routine immunizations at no cost to uninsured, underinsured, and other eligible children. An HHS spokesperson told CNN (opens in new tab) the CDC was “finalizing decisions” on COVID-19 procurement through VFC and Section 317 and said an “arbitrary September date” should not be treated as a public-health deadline, arguing COVID-19 does not follow influenza’s predictable seasonal pattern. The same spokesperson said HHS and CDC must ensure federally funded vaccines are appropriate for the populations those programs serve.
Retail pharmacies have already received commercial supply. CVS told CNN (opens in new tab) adult COVID vaccines began arriving about a week after FDA approval and pediatric doses later; without insurance, a pediatric COVID shot would cost $149.99 out of pocket at CVS, the chain said. Flu vaccines are available commercially and through government programs despite some manufacturer delays, CNN (opens in new tab) reported.
CNN (opens in new tab) and CIDRAP both report the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has not issued new COVID recommendations this season and has not met since a March federal court stay blocked an HHS overhaul of the committee, leaving ACIP without a quorum. CIDRAP’s Unbiased Science series said VRBPAC recommended an XFG-targeted formulation on May 28 and FDA adopted that strain target the next day, but ACIP has not taken the usual follow-on recommendation step. Motive claims about why procurement is delayed are contested and are summarized in speculation below.
American Academy of Pediatrics President Andrew Racine said in a statement quoted by CNN (opens in new tab) that delayed or out-of-reach vaccines leave children unable to benefit from protection and that policymakers should remove obstacles. Dr. Michelle Fiscus of the Association of Immunization Managers told CNN (opens in new tab) some delay between commercial and VFC availability is normal, but the current environment has raised anxiety about when program access will begin.