Kids who need hormone-blocking drugs to prevent premature puberty — or delay it if they're trans — have lost a more affordable option. The remaining nearly identical drug costs eight times more.

Kids who need a hormone-blocking drug to prevent premature puberty have lost an off-label option. The company that makes the medicine, which is 1/8 the cost of the FDA-approved version, withdrew it.

Using the COVID vaccine "off-label" — whether that's for booster shots or young children — may be tempting to some vaccine providers, but the CDC warns it could get them into trouble.

Immediately after the Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer's vaccine, the company delivered fewer doses than its government contract projected. Federal officials say they didn't know why.

If all goes to plan, Americans who got Pfizer or Moderna shots can get a third dose eight months after their last jab. Here's why health officials think you'll need one.

House subcommittee members questioned why Emergent BioSoultions awarded bonuses to executives despite quality problems than hindered production of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine.

President Biden threw his support behind a World Trade Organization proposal that would waive intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines — allowing countries to make their own vaccines.

A dip of 86% in doses to be distributed to states follows a surge that occurred after one of J&J's third party manufacturers was finally able to release a stockpile.

Johnson & Johnson has struggled with serious supply problems. Next week, states will have 86% fewer of the doses to dole out than they did this week.

The COVID-19 vaccine by Johnson and Johnson has hit a snag. One the facilities making a key ingredient didn't pass quality inspection — possibly impacting 15 million doses.

Moncef Slaoui, who helped lead Operation Warp Speed under the Trump administration, was removed from a medical device startup's board over allegations of sexual harassment.

A 1950 law allows the government to award contracts that take priority over all others for national defense. During the pandemic, the law has been used to defend the country against the coronavirus.

Pfizer and Moderna each agreed to supply 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the U.S. by the end of March. With just under three weeks left, both companies have their work cut out for them.

To hit their U.S. target of 220 million shots by the end of March, Moderna and Pfizer will need to double the number of doses they're currently delivering each week.

Pharmaceutical giant Merck has not had success with its own COVID-19 vaccine, but has entered a deal to produce vaccines for Johnson & Johnson, who could use the help after production shortfalls.

Merck traditionally has been a leader in vaccines but has not had success with a COVID-19 vaccine. It's lending a hand to Johnson & Johnson, where production is running significantly behind schedule.

The Food and Drug Administration is working on a playbook for how it could greenlight vaccine tweaks. Studies in hundreds of people, rather than tens of thousands, seem likely.

Coronavirus variants are on the rise, which means changes to the COVID-19 vaccines will be needed. How will the companies do that efficiently, and what will the Food and Drug Administration require?

The two companies producing COVID-19 vaccines for use in the United States will have to raise production to meet contractual goals of 100 million doses each by the end of March.

Moderna is rapidly increasing production of COVID-19 vaccine for the U.S., and Pfizer is lagging behind. NPR looks at the production trends to see what it means for vaccination drives.