Judge blocks RFK Jr's ACIP appointments and reverses January vaccine changes
Mar 16th 2026
A federal judge ruled Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s replacement of ACIP members likely violated federal law, stayed the new appointees, invalidated votes that changed the national vaccine schedule, and postponed the committee meeting while HHS prepares to appeal.
- A federal judge stayed 13 appointments to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, finding the replacements likely violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
- All votes taken by the committee over the past year were invalidated, including bans on thimerosal in flu vaccines and changes to MMR, chickenpox, and newborn hepatitis B recommendations.
- The judge found the January overhaul of routine immunization recommendations to be arbitrary and capricious and blocked those changes.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics sued HHS, and the court ruling forced postponement of this week’s ACIP meeting.
- HHS said it will seek to overturn the decision and legal experts expect appeals and further court review over standing.
- The committee had planned to review long term effects after Covid vaccination, according to a leaked memo, intensifying scrutiny of the panel’s new members.
Articles
- Federal judge blocks RFK Jr’s overhaul of vaccine recommendations www.theguardian.com
- Judge blocks US government from slimming down vaccine recommendations apnews.com
- Federal court blocks Kennedy’s vaccine changes, invalidates vaccine advisory panel thehill.com
- RFK Jr's changes to CDC vaccine guidance, advisory board blocked by judge arstechnica.com
- Federal judge blocks RFK Jr.'s changes to childhood vaccine schedule www.nbcnews.com
- Judge temporarily blocks key parts of RFK, Jr.’s effort to overhaul U.S. childhood vaccines www.scientificamerican.com
- How RFK, Jr.’s controversial ideas are shaping Americans’ health www.scientificamerican.com