Federal judge temporarily blocks RFK Jr.’s vaccine agenda – an epidemiologist answers questions parents may have

A Massachusetts federal judge on March 16, 2026, temporarily blocked HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s restructuring of the vaccine advisory panel and his January 2026 overhaul that cut the childhood vaccine schedule from 17 to 11 routine vaccinations. The court ruled that Kennedy's changes likely violated federal law by failing to follow established legal and scientific processes. The ruling returns the vaccine schedule to its pre-June 2025 status while litigation proceeds, though most pediatricians had already ignored Kennedy's revised schedule and insurers continued covering all vaccines. HHS officials indicated they plan to appeal the decision, and the ongoing court case could affect future vaccine coverage determinations by insurance companies and public programs that rely on advisory committee recommendations.