On Monday, March 16, 2026, a federal judge in Boston issued a preliminary injunction that temporarily halts the U.S. government’s recent efforts to scale back childhood vaccine recommendations.
The ruling by Judge Brian E. Murphy targeted policies led by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which had sought to significantly reduce the number of universally recommended vaccines for children.
Key Aspects of the Ruling
- Reversal of Policy Changes: The judge blocked the January 2026 revised immunization schedule, which had cut the number of universally recommended vaccines from 17 to 11. This effectively restores recommendations for the flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, certain types of meningitis, and RSV.
- Advisory Committee Invalidated: The court stayed Kennedy’s appointments to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Judge Murphy noted that the mass firing of the previous 17 members and their replacement with hand-picked advisers likely violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).
- Invalidation of Recent Votes: All votes taken by the newly constituted committee—including those to end universal birth dose recommendations for hepatitis B and move COVID-19 shots to a “clinician-consultation” model—have been stayed.
- “Arbitrary and Capricious”: The judge described the unilateral changes as an “abandonment of technical knowledge” and noted that the government bypassed long-standing, evidence-based procedures.
The Legal Context
The lawsuit was brought by a coalition of medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Public Health Association (APHA). They argued that the administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act by making sweeping changes without proper scientific review or adherence to established regulatory processes.
Government Response
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has already signaled its intent to appeal. Spokesman Andrew Nixon stated that the department looks forward to the decision being overturned, framing the ruling as an attempt to prevent the administration from governing.
Note: This injunction is temporary. While it halts the current “slimmed-down” recommendations and restores the previous schedule for now, the final outcome will depend on further court proceedings or a potential trial.