Medical associations challenge Kennedy over COVID-19 vaccine recommendations

In May 2025, a coalition of medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in federal court in Boston. The lawsuit was prompted by Kennedy's abrupt announcement that COVID-19 vaccinations would no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. This decision was met with widespread criticism from health experts and organizations who feared it would undermine public health and vaccine confidence. The lawsuit argues that the HHS, under Kennedy's leadership, acted arbitrarily and capriciously by changing vaccine recommendations without following the established scientific review process. Critics believed that these changes could create confusion regarding vaccine eligibility and potentially increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children. The plaintiffs assert that these decisions could lead to lowered vaccination rates, resulting in increased incidences of preventable diseases. Leading medical groups have expressed serious concerns that Kennedy's actions jeopardize decades of vaccine policy, which has successfully reduced disease prevalence in the United States. Lawmakers and health professionals fear that the administration's new stance on vaccines may erode trust in vaccination programs and sow doubt among the public about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. As the legal battle unfolds, health experts continue to urge for adherence to scientific evidence when it comes to vaccine recommendations. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for public health policy and immunization practices across the country. There is a growing sentiment among healthcare professionals that any attempts to diminish the efficacy of established vaccination programs could lead to a resurgence of infectious diseases that were once on the verge of eradication.