Trump administration appeals ruling as it continues to reject routine vaccine guidance

The Trump administration is escalating its fight over childhood vaccines, appealing a federal court ruling that blocked efforts to scale back routine immunization recommendations for kids.

The appeal is the latest development in a lawsuit filed in July by the American Academy of Pediatrics and some other medical groups. The lawsuit in federal court in Boston originally focused on Kennedy's decision to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccinations for most children and pregnant women.

The lawsuit was updated as Kennedy took more steps that alarmed medical societies, causing the plaintiffs to ask Murphy to take steps to address those policy changes too.

For example, the plaintiffs amended the lawsuit to stop the scaling back of the nation's childhood vaccination schedule. They also asked the court to look at Kennedy's actions concerning the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises public health officials on what vaccines to recommend to doctors and patients.

Kennedy, a leading anti-vaccine activist before becoming the nation's top health official, fired the entire 17-member panel last year and replaced it with a group that includes several anti-vaccine voices.Orlando Sentinel

For now, the standard vaccine schedule remains intact. Rather than being settled by science, the battle over whether it should is just getting started.

Previously:
• New research: Shingles vaccine reduces risk of developing dementia by 20%
• Colorado school sends unvaccinated students home as RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine crusade pays off
• Texas measles outbreak claims first child as anti-vaxxers blame the vaccine