Trump Administration Sued Over Covid-19 Vaccine Guidelines

Physician and leading medical associations are taking the Trump administration to court over its Covid-19 vaccine guidelines, which they claim are based on anti-vaccine and anti-science rhetoric. The lawsuit targets Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's announcement that Covid-19 vaccines should not be recommended for pregnant women and healthy children, despite evidence showing they are at a heightened risk from the virus. The plaintiffs argue that Kennedy's decision flouted studies and expert scientific review panels, and made it more difficult for some to get the vaccine.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration is being sued by a pregnant physician and leading medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians, over its Covid-19 vaccine guidelines.
• The lawsuit targets Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's unilateral decision to recommend against Covid-19 vaccines for pregnant women and healthy children.
• Kennedy's announcement circumvented expert scientific review panels and flouted studies showing pregnant women are at heightened risk from the virus.
• The plaintiffs argue that Kennedy's decision is based on anti-vaccine and anti-science rhetoric and is an existential threat to vaccination in America.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, and American Public Health Association are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
• Richard H. Hughes IV, partner at Epstein Becker Green, stated that the administration's actions would "unleash a wave of preventable harm on our nation's children."

Statistics:

• 17 sitting members of the CDC's vaccine advisory panel were fired by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy in June 2020.
• The largest annual measles case count in 33 years was reported in 2020.
• According to reports, more parents are seeking early vaccination for their children, fearing vaccines will go into shortage or no longer be covered by insurance.

Sources:

• Associated Press, "Doctor Suits Trump Admin Over COVID Vaccine Guidelines", June 28, 2020.
• Reuters, "Exclusive: Trump administration sued over COVID-19 vaccine guidelines", June 29, 2020.
• The Washington Post, "Trump administration fires top vaccine advisers, altering safety guidance", June 1, 2020.
• The New York Times, "A Growing Threat to Vaccination Efforts", June 27, 2020.