RFK Jr. Vaccine Policies

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.

U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy blocked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s January vaccine memo — which cut routinely recommended childhood immunizations from 17 to 11 and would have narrowed recommendations for flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, some meningitis vaccines and RSV — finding the ACIP overhaul "arbitrary and capricious" for bypassing established scientific procedures. The injunction stayed most of Kennedy’s new ACIP appointments (including a stay on 13 appointees and decisions by the reconstituted 17‑member panel), paused a planned ACIP meeting, drew praise from pediatric groups, and prompted HHS to say it will appeal while polling shows public trust in the childhood schedule has declined.