CDC Order Freeze Delays Children's COVID Shots Across US States
US states face delays securing COVID-19 vaccines for children after the CDC stopped accepting orders, amid shifting federal guidance and rising vaccine hesitancy.
US states are encountering delays in securing COVID-19 vaccines for children through a federal immunization program, people familiar with the matter said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not begun accepting orders for the shots, leaving states unable to place requests.
The Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The hold-up comes as the Trump administration narrows its vaccine guidance. The CDC no longer advises that all children receive a COVID shot, instead directing parents to consult their doctors. A federal judge earlier this year blocked the administration from implementing a narrower vaccine schedule.
Vaccine hesitancy is rising nationwide, and measles outbreaks are spreading. Four measles-related deaths were reported in Pennsylvania earlier on Tuesday.
Demand for COVID booster shots has already dropped sharply. Fewer than 10% of children aged six months to 17 were vaccinated last year, according to CDC data.