Judge blocks RFK Jr. Reducing childhood vaccine recommendations

A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked federal health officials from reducing the number of recommended vaccines per child, saying U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likely violated federal procedures in renewing a key vaccine advisory panel.

The decision halts an order by Kennedy – announced in January – ending universal recommendations to vaccinate all children against influenza, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis and respiratory syncytial virus.

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A number of leading medical groups have raised alarms that changes in vaccine recommendations made under Kennedy would undermine protection against six diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics and some other groups amended their lawsuit in July, asking a judge to stop reducing the country’s childhood vaccination schedule.

The original lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boston, focused on Kennedy’s decision to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccinations for most children and pregnant women.

The lawsuit was updated as Kennedy took further steps that alarmed medical associations, prompting the plaintiffs to ask Judge Brian E. Murphy called for steps to be taken to address these policy changes as well. For example, the amended complaint asked the court to consider Kennedy’s actions in connection with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises public health officials on which vaccines doctors and patients recommend.

Kennedy, a prominent anti-vaccine activist before becoming the nation’s top health official, fired the entire 17-member panel last year and replaced it with a group that included many anti-vaccine voices.

Murphy, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, said Kennedy’s reconstitution of ACIP would likely violate federal law. He ordered the suspension of appointments – and all decisions taken by the revised committee.

“HHS looks forward to overturning this judge’s decision just like his other attempts to block the Trump administration from governing,” HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said.

The Food Industry Advisory Committee was scheduled to meet this week to discuss COVID-19 vaccines, among other issues, but that meeting was postponed.

“ACIP as currently constituted cannot meet,” said Richard Hughes IV, an attorney representing the AAP. “How can the committee meet without almost all of its members?”