HHS delays COVID-19 vaccine access for children via VFC program

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is currently not providing COVID-19 vaccines for children through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. This delay affects at least 11 states and one U.S. territory, creating what health officials describe as a “two-tiered” system of access.

While private providers can vaccinate children with private insurance, states have not received free doses for the VFC program, which serves uninsured, underinsured, and Medicaid-eligible children. This disparity forces pediatricians to choose between vaccinating privately insured patients or withholding shots from those reliant on the VFC program.

Specific states reporting these shortages include California, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. Although manufacturers have been shipping doses since early September, the lack of finalized decisions regarding VFC procurement has resulted in a significant gap in availability for vulnerable populations.