Several leading medical organizations have filed a lawsuit against Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for altering COVID-19 vaccine recommendations without following federal procedures. The lawsuit, filed in a Massachusetts federal district court, challenges Kennedy's decision to remove healthy children and pregnant women from the COVID-19 vaccine schedule, calling it "arbitrary" and "capricious" and in violation of federal law.
The plaintiffs, which include the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, and the American Public Health Association, claim that Kennedy's actions undermine public trust in vaccines and threaten public health. The lawsuit seeks to reverse these changes and declare them unlawful.
Kennedy's removal of 17 members from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and their replacement with individuals who have expressed anti-vaccine views is also under scrutiny. The Infectious Diseases Society of America and other medical groups argue that these changes could dismantle the nation's vaccine infrastructure.
The lawsuit highlights the broader implications of Kennedy's policies, which include blocking CDC communications and canceling vaccine panel meetings. CIDRAP reports that the plaintiffs are seeking preliminary and permanent injunctions to halt Kennedy's vaccine recommendations and restore science-based guidance.