White House to appeal ruling blocking vaccine schedule changes

The Trump administration has filed notice that it will appeal a federal court ruling that blocked changes to the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule, the latest turn in an ongoing legal and regulatory battle over the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel.

The notice, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, aims to challenge a March 16 decision by District Judge Brian Murphy that halted actions tied to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s overhaul of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The ruling found that Mr. Kennedy replaced the committee “unlawfully” and stayed the appointment of 13 members, nullifying their positions and votes. The overhaul had reduced the number of recommended childhood vaccines from 18 to 11.

The lawsuit was brought by several medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which argued the changes violated federal law. The Justice Department may seek emergency relief as the case proceeds through the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The notice of appeal comes as the administration has continued reshaping the committee through other channels. On April 6, the CDC shifted authority over ACIP member nominations and appointments to Mr. Kennedy, formalizing a process that gives him oversight of chair and vice chair selections. Days later, HHS renewed the committee’s charter with changes that expanded its focus on vaccine risks and adverse events and broadened member eligibility beyond traditional vaccine expertise to include areas such as toxicology, pediatric neurodevelopment and recovery from vaccine injuries.

Those moves drew sharp criticism. More than 130 medical, public health and patient advocacy organizations — including the AAP and the American Public Health Association — raised alarms over the charter revisions, warning they could shift the panel’s focus away from benefits and prevention and allow “an unqualified committee to promote misleading narratives about vaccine safety.”

Pharmacy organizations, including the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, said the changes place a disproportionate emphasis on vaccine risks and could weaken scientific rigor and disrupt vaccine access.

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