Pro‑Trump MAHA Institute Pushes Anti‑Vaccine Agenda as RFK Jr.’s HHS Faces Legal Challenges and Public Distrust Over Vaccine Policy
A federal judge has issued an injunction blocking Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s reconstituted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices from implementing major vaccine-policy changes — including proposed overhauls to the childhood vaccination schedule — after finding the appointments likely violated federal procedure, forcing HHS to postpone advisory meetings. At the same time, Axios‑Ipsos polling shows public confidence eroding (trust in the childhood schedule fell to 60% from 71%, 70% of Americans have little or no trust in vaccine information from Kennedy and 68% distrust Surgeon General nominee Casey Means), even as roughly one‑third of Americans say they identify with Kennedy’s "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement.
📌 Key Facts
- A federal judge, Brian Murphy, issued an injunction blocking Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from implementing vaccine policy changes recommended by his reconstituted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), including a major overhaul of the childhood vaccination schedule; the ruling stays the appointments of Kennedy’s ACIP members, blocks further votes and prompted HHS to postpone a planned advisory meeting.
- The injunction stems from a lawsuit by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups seeking to void all ACIP votes taken over the past year, including a vote to drop the recommendation that all infants receive the Hepatitis B vaccine.
- Murphy found HHS is likely in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act and that the reconstituted ACIP likely does not comply with federal law because prior members were removed and replaced without the traditional rigorous screening process.
- HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said the department expects the decision to be overturned on appeal and characterized the judge as someone who has previously tried to limit the Trump administration.
- Axios/Ipsos polling shows public trust in the childhood vaccination schedule has fallen to 60% from 71% last June under Kennedy’s tenure.
- The survey found 70% of Americans have little or no trust in vaccine or health information from Kennedy and 68% say the same about Surgeon General nominee Casey Means, even as nearly one‑third of Americans say they identify with Kennedy’s 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) movement.
- Pollsters note that Democrats’ trust in federal health guidance has eroded sharply as they see Trump appointees displacing career scientists, and independents’ trust has also declined.
📊 Relevant Data
The US childhood vaccination schedule recommends routine vaccines against approximately 16-18 diseases, while Denmark's schedule covers only 10-11, excluding routine vaccinations for rotavirus, universal infant hepatitis B (only for high-risk groups), varicella (chickenpox), hepatitis A, and annual influenza for all children.
Why Denmark's vaccine schedule is not right for the U.S. — STAT
In the US, non-Hispanic Asian persons account for 48.4% of all persons with chronic hepatitis B infection, and non-US-born persons account for 73.6%, compared to the general population prevalence of about 0.3-0.5%.
Prevalence and awareness of Hepatitis B virus infection in... — Hepatology Communications
Autism prevalence among US children in 2022 was 3.66% for Black children, 3.30% for Hispanic children, 3.82% for Asian/Pacific Islander children, and 2.77% for White children, with genetics estimated to contribute 60-90% of the risk for developing autism.
CDC Autism Report 2025: 1 in 31 U.S. Children Diagnosed — Autism Parenting Magazine
In a 2025 Pew Research survey, 70% of Asian adults expressed high confidence in the effectiveness of childhood vaccines, compared to lower rates among other groups, with overall confidence higher among those with more education.
How Do Americans View Childhood Vaccines, Vaccine Research and Policy — Pew Research Center
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Axios/Ipsos polling shows trust in the childhood vaccination schedule at 60%, down from 71% last June under Kennedy’s tenure.
- The survey finds 70% of Americans have little or no trust in vaccine or health information from Kennedy, and 68% say the same about Surgeon General nominee Casey Means.
- Despite that distrust, nearly one-third of Americans say they identify with Kennedy’s 'Make America Healthy Again' movement, suggesting his broader wellness branding has more appeal than his specific vaccine changes.
- Pollsters note that Democrats’ trust in federal health guidance has eroded sharply as they view Trump appointees displacing career scientists, while independents’ trust has also slid.
- A federal judge, Brian Murphy, has issued an injunction blocking Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from implementing vaccine policy changes recommended by his newly constituted ACIP, including a major overhaul of the childhood vaccination schedule.
- Murphy found HHS is likely in violation of administrative procedure and that the reconstituted ACIP likely does not comply with federal law because all prior members were removed and replaced without the traditional rigorous screening.
- The injunction stems from a lawsuit by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups seeking to void all ACIP votes taken over the past year, including a vote to drop the recommendation that all infants receive a Hepatitis B vaccine.
- The ruling stays the appointments of Kennedy’s ACIP members and blocks further votes, prompting HHS to postpone this week’s planned vaccine advisory meeting.
- HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said the department expects the decision to be overturned on appeal, framing the judge as someone who has previously tried to limit the Trump administration.