15 state attorneys general sue RFK Jr. over “anti-science” vaccine policy

A coalition of 15 state attorneys general has initiated legal proceedings against Robert F. Kennedy Jr., accusing him of undermining public health through his controversial vaccine policies. Scientists have consistently warned that climate change could accelerate the spread of infectious diseases, emphasizing the importance of vaccination in protecting community health. While vaccines are celebrated as a monumental achievement in public health history, resistance and skepticism have persisted since the inception of vaccination in the late 1700s. Kennedy, who has positioned himself as a prominent critic of vaccines, has been appointed to a pivotal health role in the Trump administration. The lawsuit alleges that his actions represent an unprecedented assault on the established childhood immunization schedule based on scientific evidence. According to the lawsuit, these controversial moves could lead to increased illness and strain state healthcare resources. The legal action is spearheaded by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, alongside a coalition that includes Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. They are challenging Kennedy's promotion of discredited theories linking vaccines to autism, as well as the decisions made by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mayes highlighted in a recent press briefing that the lawsuit takes issue with what they describe as the agencies' confusing and scientifically unsound revisions to the immunization schedule. Additionally, the lawsuit questions Kennedy's controversial dismissal and replacement of 17 experts from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) with individuals who share his minority anti-vaccine views. In a significant policy shift earlier this year, the CDC, following recommendations from the reshaped ACIP, removed seven childhood vaccines from its routine recommendations, overturning long-standing guidelines for immunizations against diseases such as rotavirus, meningococcal disease, and influenza.