After a nearly a month-long delay, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now allowing states to order updated COVID-19 shots for a program that serves most US children. 

The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program offers free immunizations to more than half of US children, including those who are covered by Medicaid, the uninsured or underinsured, and Native Americans and Alaska Natives.

Children whose families have private insurance have had access to the new COVID shots for weeks. The Food and Drug Administration approved the updated vaccines August 27, and companies began shipping doses to medical offices and pharmacies as early as September 27.

Although overall hospitalization rates for COVID-19 are low, they have been rising since mid-June, and public health advocates say the delay in providing vaccines to the VFC program has left low-income children at higher risk.

Along with adults over 65, hospitalization rates are highest for babies under 1 year old, according to the CDC. The news that vaccines for the VFC program are available was first reported by the Washington Post. 

States now able to order COVID vaccines

Public health officials from multiple states confirmed that they are now able to order the free vaccines.

South Carolina’s health department “was alerted yesterday afternoon by the CDC that COVID vaccines would be available for order today,” Casey White, a department spokeswoman, told CIDRAP News. “Announcements will be shared with VFC providers and health departments to communicate the opening of ordering for all respiratory immunizations.”

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recorded eight new H5N1 avian flu outbreaks among commercial poultry, backyard flocks, and commercial turkey operations, with six of the outbreaks reported in Minnesota, while a new study reports H5 avian flu in polar bears in Alaska. 

Montana and Wisconsin each reported a single poultry outbreak. 

The largest outbreak was in Barron County, Wisconsin, with 79,100 affected birds at a commercial turkey meat operation. A total of 51,500 birds were sickened in two separate outbreaks at commercial turkey facilities in Stearns County, Minnesota.

In the past 30 days H5N1 avian flu has been confirmed in 20 flocks, including 13 commercial farms and seven backyard flocks. A total of 560,000 birds have been affected. 

Minnesota also reported at least 40 wild-bird H5N1 avian flu detections in the past 10 days, most in the seven-county Minneapolos-St. Paul metro area. Mallards, Canada geese, and three bald eagles are among the wild birds.

Avian flu in Alaskan polar bears

In other news, a report this week in Science Direct notes that three dead polar bears in Alaska were infected with highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza (HPAIV) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses in 2023 and 2024. 

“These data indicate that HPAIV infection may represent an emerging threat to polar bear health within the Alaska Arctic; though, population immunity seems to be building and may protect this species from widespread demographic impacts of disease,” the authors said. 

Ten more people have fallen ill in a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to broccoli sprouts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an update today.

The outbreak of Salmonella Bovismorbificans has now sickened 32 people in six states, with three hospitalized. Illness-onset dates range from July 7 to September 3. Of the 27 people who’ve been interviewed, 26 reported eating sprouts or microgreens.

Packaged broccoli sprouts grown by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC, and sold to grocery stores, restaurants, and foodservice customers in Idaho, Montana, and Washington have been recalled, the Food and Drug Administration said in its update on the investigation. Sprout samples collected by officials in Washington state tested positive for Salmonella Bovismorbificans, and whole-genome sequencing indicated the samples matched the outbreak strain.

“If you have recalled broccoli sprouts in your home, throw them out or return them,” the CDC said.

More Salmonella cases linked to pet turtles

The CDC also recently provided an update on a Salmonella outbreak tied to pet turtles, which has now grown to 20 illnesses in 12 states—12 new cases and six newly affected states since July 27. Half of the illnesses are in children under age 5.

The outbreak is caused by a strain of Salmonella Paratyphi B Variant L (+) Tartrate +. Of the 14 people who’ve been interviewed, 11 said they’d had contact with pet turtles before getting sick. The turtles were bought from pet stores, flea markets, and a reptile expo, the CDC said.