RFK Jr.'s Vaccine Policy Changes Paused by Court as Public Health Experts Warn of Lasting Damage

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:27:00 +0200

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has aggressively pursued changes to federal vaccine policies since taking office over a year ago. His actions included dropping COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women, replacing the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) with members skeptical of vaccines, and attempting to reduce the childhood immunization schedule from 17 to 11 vaccines without scientific justification. A federal judge recently blocked many of these changes, ruling that the new ACIP members were unlawfully appointed and pausing the revised childhood vaccination schedule. The Trump administration plans to appeal, leaving vaccine policy in uncertainty. Public health experts express concern over rising vaccine hesitancy and increases in preventable diseases like measles. Even if policies revert, the confusion and eroded public trust may have long-term effects. Kennedy has recently toned down his anti-vaccine rhe