The Trump administration has appealed a Massachusetts federal court ruling that halted Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s overhaul of the nation’s childhood vaccine schedule.
The filing, submitted Wednesday in the District of Massachusetts and signed by Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate, challenges Judge Brian Murphy’s March order blocking changes made through the CDC’s vaccine advisory process. Murphy ruled that Kennedy’s replacement of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was unlawful and put all resulting actions on hold.
The changes, announced in January, reduced the number of diseases on the recommended childhood vaccine schedule from 18 to 11, removing several routine recommendations including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, RSV, dengue, and two forms of bacterial meningitis for infants.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups have sued the Department of Health and Human Services, arguing the overhaul of the committee and vaccine schedule violates federal law.
The court order also invalidated Kennedy’s appointment of 13 advisory committee members, leaving the panel’s status uncertain.
