Judge Weighs Blocking Changes to CDC, RFK Jr. Vaccine Guidance

Lawsuit challenges recent updates to U.S. childhood vaccine schedule and advisory panel

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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A federal judge in Boston is weighing whether to block recent changes made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule and the makeup of the CDC's vaccine advisory panel. The changes, made with the backing of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have drawn a lawsuit from medical groups who argue the moves violate federal law and will reduce vaccination rates.

Why it matters

The case highlights the ongoing debate over vaccine policies in the U.S., with the medical community concerned that the changes could undermine public trust and lead to lower vaccination rates, while the government argues it has broad authority to adjust policies to address declining confidence in vaccines.

The details

The lawsuit was filed by the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and other medical groups, who argue the CDC's recent removal of broad recommendations for six childhood vaccines, including for rotavirus, influenza and hepatitis A, was made without proper justification. They also claim the reconstitution of the CDC's vaccine advisory panel, with members who allegedly oppose vaccines, violates federal law requiring balanced representation. The government has defended the changes, saying they were made to address declining public trust in vaccines following the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the advisory panel members have diverse perspectives.

  • The CDC made the changes to the vaccine schedule on January 5, 2026.
  • The CDC's vaccine advisory panel is scheduled to meet on February 26-27, 2026.

The players

Judge Brian Murphy

The federal judge presiding over the case in Boston.

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

One of the medical groups that filed the lawsuit challenging the changes to the vaccine schedule and advisory panel.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The U.S. Health Secretary who backed the CDC's changes to the vaccine schedule.

Drs. Tracy Beth Hoeg and Martin Kulldorff

Senior health officials who conducted the assessment that led to the changes in the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule.

Isaac Belfer

The Department of Justice lawyer defending the government's actions in the case.

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What they’re saying

“This is a clear and present danger to public health.”

— James Oh, Lawyer for the medical groups (The Epoch Times)

“The U.S. is a global outlier among peer nations in the number of target diseases included in its childhood vaccination schedule and in the total number of recommended vaccine doses.”

— Drs. Tracy Beth Hoeg and Martin Kulldorff, Senior health officials (The Epoch Times)

“The court cannot substitute its judgment in place of the agency.”

— Isaac Belfer, Department of Justice lawyer (The Epoch Times)

What’s next

Judge Brian Murphy said he must make a decision in the case on an 'uncomfortably tight timeline' before the CDC's vaccine advisory panel meets on February 26-27, 2026.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the medical community's concerns about vaccine policy changes undermining public trust, and the government's argument that it has the authority to adjust policies to address declining confidence in vaccines following the COVID-19 pandemic.