Nearly three weeks after federal regulators approved updated Covid vaccines, a delay in distribution through the Vaccines for Children programme leaves many uninsured and underinsured American children without access, pending a key federal decision.
Nearly three weeks after federal regulators signed off on updated Covid vaccines, about half of American children still cannot get them because the government has not yet said whether the shots will be available through the Vaccines for Children programme, according to The New York Times. That programme covers children who are uninsured, underinsured or eligible for Medicaid, as well as American Indian and Alaska Native children.
Emily Hilliard, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services, said on Wednesday that the department had still not decided whether to supply the doses through the programme. Without that decision, state officials cannot place orders through the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which distributes the vaccines to local and state authorities.
Children who have private insurance, or whose families can pay out of pocket, can still receive the updated shots. The delay therefore does not affect every child equally, but it leaves a sizeable gap for families who rely on the federal safety net.
The Food and Drug Administration approved and authorised updated mRNA Covid-19 vaccines in August to better protect against currently circulating variants, and later approved an updated Novavax shot for people aged 12 and older. The agency has also said it does not expect delays in vaccine availability once manufacturers and distribution channels are cleared, making the unresolved federal decision on children’s access through the safety-net programme the central obstacle.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
