Federal Judge Halts 17 RFK Jr. Vaccine Panel Firings and Childhood Schedule Changes
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jul 5
Federal Judge Halts 17 RFK Jr. Vaccine Panel Firings and Childhood Schedule Changes
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jul 5
Summary
A federal judge in March blocked most of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s replacement vaccine advisers, voided all votes they took and froze changes to the childhood immunization schedule.
The ruling followed Kennedy's June 9, 2025 purge of all 17 members of the CDC's ACIP panel and his installation of allies who, former CDC official Debra Houry said, initially lacked required conflict-of-interest vetting.
Houry, the CDC's former chief medical officer, said the agency descended into "pure chaos" as Kennedy sidelined scientific staff, refused briefings during a measles outbreak and pushed advisers with little science or government experience.
The reconstituted panel had voted to remove thimerosal from all flu vaccines and end the universal Hepatitis B birth-dose recommendation, moves that drew lawsuits from pediatric and other health groups.
Houry said Kennedy's leadership caused "irreparable harm" to public-health trust, with 29 states and Washington, D.C., no longer using CDC recommendations as a benchmark for childhood vaccinations.
With federal health guidance now fragmented, how can families make informed decisions about their children's health?
How will rising preventable diseases and falling public trust impact America's readiness for a future pandemic?
What structural reforms could insulate scientific agencies from political interference and preserve their integrity?
Judge Halts Kennedy’s Vaccine Policy Changes: ACIP Restored, Public Health and 508 Million Prevented Childhood Illnesses in Balance
Overview
In March 2026, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction that halted major policy changes made by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., specifically blocking recent alterations to the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule and the controversial firing and reconstitution of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The judge's order reversed these changes, restoring both the previous vaccine schedule and the original ACIP structure. This decision brought immediate clarity for healthcare providers and parents, ensuring continued access to established vaccinations and reinstating trusted public health guidelines while further legal proceedings continue.