Medical organizations, headed by Kennedy and administration health officials under Trump, are being sued over alterations to Covid-19 vaccination protocols.
In a breaking news story, several prominent medical organisations and a pregnant hospital-based physician have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., along with other federal health officials, for their actions limiting COVID-19 vaccine access and recommendations.
The plaintiffs, which include the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Public Health Association (APHA), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the American College of Physicians (ACP), the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), the American Geriatrics Society (AGS), and an unnamed pregnant doctor, are challenging the federal government's recent decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.
The lawsuit alleges that Secretary Kennedy acted unlawfully by unilaterally rescinding COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant individuals, without following established federal procedures or obtaining a committee vote. The changes were publicised via social media rather than official federal channels, which is a departure from standard protocol.
The plaintiffs argue that the federal agency violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to follow required rulemaking procedures, thereby undermining transparency and accountability. They contend that these actions are part of a broader agenda to dismantle the nation’s science- and evidence-based vaccine infrastructure, which has historically protected public health and saved countless lives.
The suit also challenges the dismissal of 17 members from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and their replacement with individuals previously aligned with anti-vaccine positions. The plaintiffs describe the actions as a pressing public health emergency that demands immediate legal correction to prevent further harm.
The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to reverse these changes and a declaratory judgment that the actions were unlawful. The case was filed in the US District Court in Massachusetts.
Dr. Susan J. Kressly, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. She expressed concern about actions taken by the Trump administration that are "jeopardizing the success" of the US immunization system. Kressly stated that recent decisions by HHS to alter the routine childhood immunization schedule are "founded in fear and not evidence."
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced in a video on social media in May that the Covid-19 vaccine would no longer be recommended for pregnant people and healthy children on the CDC's immunization schedule. Kennedy has a history of anti-vaccine actions, but no new information about his history or his actions regarding the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was provided in this paragraph.
The lawsuit filed against Robert F. Kennedy Jr., et al. in the US District Court in Massachusetts argues that they acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" when changing Covid-19 vaccine recommendations. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants have limited who can get Covid-19 vaccines and undermined overall vaccine confidence.
The lawsuit does not specify any actions taken by Dr. Marty Makary, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, and Matthew Buzzelli that are being challenged. Kressly believes that these decisions will make children and communities more vulnerable to infectious diseases like measles, whooping cough, and influenza.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
- The health and wellness of numerous individuals, particularly children and expectant mothers, is at stake as a result of the federal government's changes in COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, as alleged in a lawsuit filed by several medical societies and a hospital physician.
- The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court in Massachusetts, contends that the defendants, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., violated the Administrative Procedure Act by ignoring established rulemaking procedures, thus eroding transparency and accountability in health-related policies.
- The plaintiffs, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, argue that the defendants' actions, including the dismissal of ACIP members and enforcing new vaccine recommendations, are part of a broader political agenda that threatens the nation's science-based vaccine infrastructure and public health protection.
