Medical Associations Sue HHS Secretary Over COVID Vaccine Recommendations

Strategic Insights -

Physician groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, filed a lawsuit against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday, alleging that he unilaterally changed federal COVID vaccine recommendations without following proper procedures. The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, claims that Kennedy's revised vaccine policies have caused confusion among patients and medical professionals. The medical associations are seeking a freeze of Kennedy's May directive to remove COVID vaccine from immunization schedules for healthy kids and pregnant women.

Key Takeaways:

  • The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, American Public Health Association, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Massachusetts Public Health Alliance, and a pregnant woman who intends to get the COVID vaccine.
  • The plaintiffs claim that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acted in violation of federal law by unilaterally changing COVID vaccine recommendations without following established procedures.
  • The lawsuit specifically targets Kennedy's directive to remove COVID vaccine from immunization schedules for healthy kids and pregnant women.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Tina Tan, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, stated that the medical associations "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."
  • An HHS spokesperson stated that "the Secretary stands by his CDC reforms."