Docs sue RFK Jr. over COVID vax policy changes
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Kennedy testifying at the House Energy and Commerce Committee in June. Photo: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and other physician groups on Monday sued HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for unilaterally changing federal COVID vaccine recommendations, saying the move undercut some patients' right to get the shots.
The big picture: The lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts charges that Kennedy's revised vaccine policies have already caused confusion, and seeks a freeze of Kennedy's May directive to remove COVID vaccine from immunization schedules for healthy kids and pregnant women.
Driving the news: The medical associations claim Kennedy's directive to change COVID vaccine recommendations violates federal administrative law.
- Their complaint also noted he fired members of the federal independent vaccine advisory commission, though it doesn't make a formal charge against Kennedy for doing so.
- CDC guidance has since been updated to say that healthy children from six months to 17 years old may get COVID vaccines after consulting with a health care provider. The new CDC vaccine schedule has no recommendation on COVID vaccine for healthy pregnant women.
Zoom in: The American College of Physicians, American Public Health Association, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the Massachusetts Public Health Alliance and a pregnant woman who intends to get the COVID vaccine are also plaintiffs.
- In addition to Kennedy, the complaint also names FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, saying they acted in violation of federal law.
What they're saying: "We will not stand by while a single federal official unilaterally and effectively strips Americans of their choice to vaccinate with actions that thoroughly disregard overwhelming scientific evidence and decades of established federal processes," Tina Tan, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said in a statement.
- The medical associations say in a statement that parents and patients should follow qualified medical professionals' guidance on what vaccines to get, and note that their websites provide "evidence-based resources to help patients make decisions grounded in facts, not fear."
An HHS spokesperson said "the Secretary stands by his CDC reforms."
