Judge Blocks US Government from Scaling Back Vaccine Recommendations

The decision halts an order by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to end broad recommendations for childhood vaccinations.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 1:18am

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A federal judge has temporarily blocked the US Department of Health and Human Services from cutting the number of vaccines recommended for all children. The judge ruled that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to reconstitute the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) likely violated federal procedures, and ordered the new ACIP appointments and its decisions to be put on hold.

Why it matters

The judge's ruling preserves the current broad recommendations for childhood vaccinations against diseases like flu, rotavirus, hepatitis, and meningitis. Medical groups had raised concerns that Kennedy's changes would undermine protections against these illnesses.

The details

In January, Kennedy announced plans to end the broad recommendations for all children to receive certain routine vaccinations. This prompted a lawsuit from the American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups, who argued the changes would threaten public health. The judge found that Kennedy's reconstitution of the ACIP advisory panel, which includes several anti-vaccine voices, likely violated federal law.

  • On January 1, 2026, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to end broad recommendations for childhood vaccinations.
  • On March 16, 2026, a federal judge temporarily blocked the vaccine recommendation changes.

The players

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The current US Health Secretary, who is a leading anti-vaccine activist.

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)

A federal advisory committee that provides recommendations on vaccine use to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

American Academy of Pediatrics

A professional organization of pediatricians that filed a lawsuit challenging the vaccine recommendation changes.

Judge Brian E. Murphy

The federal judge who temporarily blocked the vaccine recommendation changes, finding they likely violated federal procedures.

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What they’re saying

“ACIP as currently constituted cannot meet. How can a committee meet without nearly the entirety of its membership?”

— Richard Hughes IV, Attorney representing the American Academy of Pediatrics (wbal.com)

“HHS looks forward to this judge's decision being overturned just like his other attempts to keep the Trump administration from governing.”

— Andrew Nixon, Department of Health and Human Services spokesman (wbal.com)

What’s next

The judge's temporary block on the vaccine recommendation changes will remain in place until the court can fully consider the case. The reconstituted ACIP advisory panel is prohibited from meeting or making decisions until the court rules on the legality of its formation.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing political battles over vaccine policies in the US, with the Biden administration's Health Secretary facing legal challenges from medical groups over efforts to scale back longstanding childhood vaccination recommendations.