AAP maintains RFK Jr. violated federal law by unilaterally changing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations without scientific evidence
By Stephanie Brown HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, July 8, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The American Academy of Pediatrics is suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services because of its recent decisions regarding vaccines for children.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. In addition to AAP, other plaintiffs include the American College of Physicians, American Public Health Association and the Infectious Disease Society of America, Massachusetts Public Health Alliance, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and a pregnant woman. The plaintiffs maintain that by unilaterally changing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations without scientific evidence for children and pregnant women, Kennedy violated federal law.
Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that when he abruptly fired 17 members of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and replaced them with individuals who have espoused antivaccine viewpoints, Kennedy’s actions were outside established, scientifically credible practice. Kennedy failed to adhere to essential steps in the federal rulemaking process and ensure balanced viewpoints on ACIP, the lawsuit states. The plaintiffs also claim he blocked CDC communications, delayed or canceled meetings of the CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration vaccine advisers, and approved revisiting debunked studies on a possible link between vaccines and autism.
“This wasn’t just sidelining science. It’s an attack on the very foundation of how we protect families and children’s health. And the consequences could be dangerous,” said AAP President Susan J. Kressly, M.D. Kressly also expressed alarm about plans of the newly appointed ACIP members to review the child and adolescent immunization schedules.
“These decisions are founded in fear and not evidence, and will make our children and communities more vulnerable to infectious diseases like measles, whooping cough, and influenza,” she added. “As we pursue action to restore science to U.S. vaccination policy, AAP will continue to provide the science-based, trusted recommendations that every American deserves.”
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