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Judge blocks RFK Jr's changes to US childhood vaccine schedule

March 17, 2026

A federal judge has halted Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 's efforts to drastically revise childhood vaccination policies, ruling that his actions violated proper legal procedures.

Who is affected

  • Children requiring immunizations and their parents
  • Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Department of Health and Human Services
  • Members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (Acip) who were fired and replaced
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, and other medical groups who filed the lawsuit
  • Healthcare providers and doctors administering vaccines
  • Insurance companies covering immunizations
  • US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • State governments implementing vaccination policies

What action is being taken

  • Judge Brian Murphy is blocking the government's changes to childhood immunization schedules
  • The judge is suspending Kennedy's appointments to the advisory vaccine panel
  • Medical groups are issuing their own vaccination recommendations
  • Some states are banding together to push healthcare providers to follow the pre-Kennedy immunization schedule
  • The Trump administration is expected to appeal the ruling

Why it matters

  • This ruling is significant because it protects established childhood immunization protocols that medical experts consider crucial for public health. The changes Kennedy attempted would have reduced vaccine recommendations by more than one-third, potentially leaving children vulnerable to preventable diseases. The decision upholds the importance of following scientifically-based, legally mandated procedures when making public health policy rather than allowing ideology-driven changes. The ruling also addresses widespread confusion among parents, doctors, and insurance providers about vaccination coverage and protocols that emerged following Kennedy's policy shifts.

What's next

  • The scheduled Wednesday meeting for the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (Acip) will be postponed
  • The Trump administration is expected to appeal the ruling

Read full article from source: BBC