As respiratory virus season nears and fall vaccination campaigns begin, more than half of US children are facing uncertainty over access to this year's COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC has delayed distribution of the shots to the federal Vaccine for Children (VFC) program, which provides vaccines at no cost to children who are uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid-eligible, or Indigenous. Approximately 52 percent of all US children are eligible for vaccines through the program, according to federal data.
Additionally, at least 11 states and one US territory participate in universal vaccine purchase programs, buying all vaccines for children regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Those states are Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming, and American Samoa. The decision, reported by Ars Technica and The Guardian, has created uncertainty for families and health officials in these regions.
The move represents a significant shift from previous years, when states typically ordered newly available seasonal COVID-19 vaccines through the VFC ahead of the fall season.