Six medical organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a Massachusetts court, alleging that recent changes to COVID-19 vaccine policies were made “arbitrarily and capriciously.” One plaintiff is a pregnant doctor who risks missing a COVID-19 booster. The groups involved include the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, and others.
In May, Kennedy announced significant vaccine policy changes, including the removal of CDC recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women, following a prior FDA recommendation limited to adults over 65 and those with high-risk conditions. These actions were made without input from federal vaccine advisory groups. Additionally, Kennedy replaced 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) with allies who are known for their anti-vaccine stances.
The lawsuit seeks to halt Kennedy’s vaccine changes and claims they undermine established vaccine science. Plaintiffs argue that Kennedy’s administration poses an existential threat to vaccination efforts in the U.S. They assert that the changes are grounded in fear rather than evidence, leading to increased vulnerability to infectious diseases. HHS’s actions, including perceived flouting of federal rules and promoting anti-vaccine rhetoric, further fuel concerns among the medical community regarding patient safety and public health.
