Washington, D.C. – Several major medical organizations are suing U.S. health leaders, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., for limiting access to the Covid-19 vaccine and undermining vaccine confidence. The lawsuit was filed on Monday in a Massachusetts federal court.
The groups involved represent hundreds of thousands of doctors, medical professionals, and scientists across the United States. They argue that recent changes made by the Trump administration have restricted access to the Covid-19 vaccine, particularly for pregnant women and children.
Key Organizations Involved
The lawsuit is supported by organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, the American Public Health Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. A pregnant doctor who fears she won’t be able to get the vaccine is also part of the lawsuit.
Richard Hughes, the lead counsel for the plaintiffs, explained that these organizations did not want to be in court, but had no choice. “We can no longer wait for government officials to sort this out,” Hughes said. “It’s necessary.”
Background on the Lawsuit
The lawsuit targets a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that limits Medicaid funding for organizations providing family planning services or reproductive health, especially those that offer abortions. While the provision does not directly name Planned Parenthood, the groups argue that the policy unfairly targets organizations like theirs.
Concerns Over Changes in Vaccine Recommendations
In May, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the head of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced that the Covid-19 vaccine would no longer be recommended for pregnant people and healthy children.
Experts quickly warned that these changes could confuse people, making it harder to access vaccines and possibly increasing the cost for patients if insurance no longer covers them.
Kennedy also made changes to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, removing 17 members and replacing them with new people who have raised doubts about vaccine safety and effectiveness.
Impact on Maternal and Child Health
Dr. Sindhu Srinivas, president of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, criticized the decision, calling it “dangerous” for pregnant women. She pointed out that pregnancy is a condition that raises the risk of severe illness from Covid-19. “Maternal immunization is really the best way to reduce maternal, fetal and infant complications,” she added.
Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, expressed alarm over the changes to the childhood immunization schedule, which could make children more vulnerable to diseases like measles. “Every child’s health is at stake,” Kressly said, highlighting the rise in measles cases in the U.S. this year.
Wider Impact on Vaccines
Several doctors involved in the lawsuit said that Kennedy’s actions have raised doubts about the safety and effectiveness of not only the Covid-19 vaccine but also other vaccines. Dr. Jason Goldman, president of the American College of Physicians, said that many of his patients were now “confused and scared.”
Changes to the CDC’s guidance could also mean that some patients’ insurance will no longer cover the cost of vaccines, making them too expensive for many to access.
The Importance of Vaccines for Children
Dr. Tina Tan, president of the Infectious Disease Society of America, stressed the importance of vaccination for children. “The only acceptable number of dead children from Covid is zero,” she said. She also pointed out that the vaccines available are safe and effective in protecting children from severe disease and death.
The Legal Request
The lawsuit asks the court to issue temporary and permanent injunctions to block the changes to Covid-19 vaccine recommendations. It also requests a declaratory judgment, which would legally declare the changes to be unlawful.