Three Democratic senators are asking federal health officials to explain why states had to wait nearly four weeks to order free COVID-19 shots for children in the Vaccines for Children program. In a letter to CDC and HHS leaders dated Sept. 29, Sens. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, Chuck Schumer of New York, and Bernie Sanders of Vermont asked CDC Director Erica Schwartz and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to respond by Oct. 9.
The gap stretched from the Food and Drug Administration's Aug. 27 approval of updated vaccines to Sept. 23, when the CDC opened its ordering system to states. During that time, families with private insurance could get shots at pharmacies and doctors' offices, while children who rely on the free federal program could not.
