Federal Judge Halts Kennedy’s Plan to Reduce Childhood Vaccine Guidelines

A federal judge has temporarily stopped Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from reducing the number of vaccines recommended for children. The ruling also found Kennedy likely broke federal law when he replaced an entire vaccine advisory committee with members who oppose vaccinations.

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday preventing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from reducing childhood vaccination guidelines, ruling that Kennedy likely broke federal procedures when he overhauled a critical vaccine advisory panel.

The court order stops Kennedy’s January directive that would have eliminated universal recommendations for children to receive vaccines against influenza, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, certain types of meningitis, and RSV.

Major medical organizations sounded the alarm over Kennedy’s vaccination policy changes, warning they would weaken defenses against six different diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups modified their existing lawsuit filed in July, requesting the court intervene to prevent the reduction of the nation’s childhood immunization guidelines.

The initial legal challenge, filed in Boston federal court, targeted Kennedy’s move to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccines for most children and expectant mothers.

The lawsuit was expanded as Kennedy implemented additional measures that concerned medical associations, prompting plaintiffs to ask Judge Brian E. Murphy to address these policy shifts as well. The updated legal filing requested court review of Kennedy’s actions regarding the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which provides guidance to public health authorities on vaccination recommendations for healthcare providers and patients.

Kennedy, who was a prominent vaccine opponent before assuming the nation’s highest health position, dismissed all 17 committee members last year and installed a new group that includes multiple vaccination critics.

Murphy, appointed to the federal bench by President Joe Biden, determined that Kennedy’s restructuring of ACIP likely broke federal statutes. He suspended the new appointments and all decisions made by the reconstituted committee.

Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon responded: “HHS looks forward to this judge’s decision being overturned just like his other attempts to keep the Trump administration from governing.”

The committee had planned to convene this week to review COVID-19 vaccines and other matters, but that meeting is now delayed.

“ACIP as currently constituted cannot meet,” stated Richard Hughes IV, legal counsel for the AAP. “How can a committee meet without nearly the entirety of its membership?”