BOSTON — Medical organizations have sued the U.S. federal government over a sweeping overhaul of vaccine policy, challenging changes to national immunization recommendations and the restructuring of a key federal vaccine advisory panel under the Department of Health and Human Services, according to court filings and public statements from the groups involved.
The lawsuit, led by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical organizations, argues that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and federal health officials improperly changed vaccine guidance and altered the membership of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without following required procedures, the plaintiffs said.
The groups have asked the court to block the policy changes and restore the previous process for developing federal vaccine recommendations. They argue the changes could affect guidance used by physicians, families, insurers and public health programs nationwide. The government has disputed the claims and defended the authority of HHS leadership to revise health policies.
The legal challenge centers in part on changes announced in 2026 that reduced the scope of routine childhood vaccine recommendations and replaced members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee. The plaintiffs contend the revisions were made without adequate scientific review and violated federal requirements governing advisory bodies.
A federal judge in Massachusetts previously allowed the case to proceed, rejecting the government’s effort to dismiss the lawsuit. The court found the medical groups had raised claims that could be considered in the legal challenge.
In March 2026, U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy issued a preliminary injunction blocking major portions of the vaccine policy changes while the lawsuit continues. The ruling temporarily halted implementation of the revised immunization schedule and paused actions by the reconstituted advisory committee.
Medical groups supporting the lawsuit said the court action preserved the existing framework for vaccine recommendations while legal questions are reviewed. Officials representing the administration have said they disagree with the ruling and indicated the government would continue pursuing its position through the legal process.
The case remains ongoing as the federal government’s appeal and further court proceedings continue. The dispute is expected to determine whether the administration’s changes to vaccine policy and the advisory committee structure can take effect permanently.
