CDC approves COVID-19 vaccines for low-income children after delay

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has authorized states to order updated COVID-19 vaccines through a program that provides free vaccines to more than half of U.S. children after nearly a one-month delay. The Vaccines for Children program includes children covered by Medicaid, those who are uninsured or underinsured and Native Americans and Alaska Natives. Children with access to private insurance have been able to get the shots for weeks. Public health advocates maintain the CDC’s delay in greenlighting the shots for the Vaccines for Children program has left low-income children at greater risk. Overall hospitalization rates for COVID-19 are low, but they have been increasing since mid-June. (CIDRAP news article, 9/24/26)