A US district court blocked the US Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr’s recent revisions to the federal childhood vaccine schedule, according to multiple media reports including Reuters.
In February, HHS and the CDC announced changes to the federally-recommended childhood immunization schedule, cutting the number of recommended vaccines from 17 to 11—dropping vaccines for seasonal flu and others respiratory infections.
Today, a federal judge blocked major parts those HHS changes, including the reduced number of recommended vaccines. The judge also ruled that Kennedy’s overhaul of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was unlawful, according to Reuters. The judge’s ruling invalidates any actions the new panel had already taken, Reuters reports.
The lawsuit was brought against Kennedy and HHS by pediatrician groups including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which lauded the decision as “a victory for kids.”
“Today’s ruling is a historic and welcome outcome for children, communities, and pediatricians everywhere. When Secretary Kennedy made unsupported and unscientific changes to pediatric immunization recommendations last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) was mission-bound to step up and push back against these dangerous actions that have sown chaos and confusion for parents and pediatricians across the country. This decision effectively means that a science-based process for developing immunization recommendations is not to be trifled with and represents a critical step to restoring scientific decision-making to federal vaccine policy that has kept children healthy for years,” AAP president Andrew Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP said in a statement.
He added: “For decades, the AAP partnered closely with the federal government to advance our mission of attaining the optimal health and well-being of children and youth. We would much prefer to return to that partnership and collaborate with federal healthcare agencies instead of litigating against them. Through this partnership, the AAP and federal health agencies collaborated closely, reviewing the science and discussing the latest evidence alongside experts, to develop clear, unified routine childhood and adolescent immunization recommendations that protect children from dangerous, preventable illnesses.
“We stand by ready to resume this role, which is why we issued our annual update to the childhood immunization schedule that has been formally endorsed by more than 12 national medical societies and supported by hundreds of public health groups, experts, and advocates. In the wake of today’s decision, one thing remains clear: parents can continue to turn to the AAP’s childhood vaccine recommendations and talk with their pediatrician about how to best protect their children’s health.”
