A U.S. District Court judge issued a ruling March 16 in American Academy of Pediatrics v. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that places a hold on several changes to a federal vaccine policy made over the past year.
The decision reverses actions taken by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) since summer 2025, including updates to the childhood vaccine schedule, changes to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and a revised hepatitis B recommendation.
The court found that the CDC exceeded its authority by reducing the number of routinely recommended childhood vaccines without consulting ACIP, that newly appointed ACIP members did not meet the expertise requirements outlined in the committee’s charter and that changes to the vaccine schedule were not supported by evidence. The ruling states that established scientific and legal processes for developing vaccine policy were not followed.
As a result, vaccine recommendations in place prior to June 2025 are reinstated, new policy changes cannot be implemented and recent ACIP decisions are reversed. Previously revised vaccine recommendations return to prior status and insurance coverage at no cost to patients remains in place under federal law.
The ruling is a temporary stay, not a final decision, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has said it will appeal.
Members with questions may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA.