RFK Jr.’s Childhood Vaccine Changes Stopped By Judge: What To Know In NJ

A U.S. District Court Judge has temporarily stopped federal health officials from implementing changes to the childhood vaccination schedule.

In a ruling issued on Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Brian Murphy of Boston sided with medical organizations that filed a lawsuit over Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s changes to federal vaccine policy.

In January, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) implemented these changes, which recommended that children get vaccines for 11 diseases, compared with the 18 the CDC previously recommended.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) framed the change as a way to increase public trust by recommending only the most important vaccinations for children to receive.

“This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Kennedy previously said.

• Read More: Major Changes To Childhood Vaccine Schedule Announced By CDC: What To Know In NJ

In Murphy’s ruling, he also suspended Kennedy’s 13 appointments to the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee (ACIP), which is typically comprised of medical and public health experts responsible for making vaccine recommendations.

Kennedy came under fire in June 2025 after he removed sitting members of the committee and replaced them with his own appointments.

Following Murphy’s Monday ruling, many health groups praised the decision, with Andrew P. Racine, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, calling it a “historic and welcomed outcome for children, families, pediatricians and communities across the United States.”

“For many years, the American Academy of Pediatrics, in collaboration with partners in the federal government, recommended a schedule of immunizations to promote children's health and development,” Racine said. “Today's ruling marks an important step toward restoring scientific decision-making that is at the heart of that partnership.”

“Protecting the health and safety of America's children is what prompted the AAP to petition the court for this decision from the outset, and that goal will remain our guiding principle,” he continued.

In a statement sent to Patch, HHS Spokesman Andrew Nixon said the department “looks forward to this judge’s decision being overturned just like his other attempts to keep the Trump administration from governing.”

According to a report from NPR, the ruling forced ACIP to postpone a meeting that was planned to take place on Wednesday and Thursday.

New Jersey Vaccine Requirements

Following changes made to childhood vaccine policies in January, Acting NJ Attorney General Jennifer Davenport joined a coalition of 15 states in challenging the new childhood immunization schedule, as well as the replacement of ACIP members.

In a news release from the NJ Department of Health, officials argued that the decision memo changing vaccine policy “was not based on any new scientific evidence, any recommendation by a lawfully constituted ACIP, or any systematic review of the available data.”

Officials also argued that the memo ignored “the overwhelming evidence supporting the effectiveness of the CDC’s pre-Kennedy childhood immunization schedule.”

“Protecting children is a priority for our office,” Davenport said. “Compare that to the Trump Administration and Secretary Kennedy, whose reckless approach to public health policy gambles with children’s lives and puts our communities in danger.”

“RFK, Jr., replaced established experts with an unqualified vaccine panel and issued a rogue vaccine schedule that gambles with children’s health and lives,” she continued. “This radical and unlawful overhaul of the nation’s childhood vaccine schedule rests on fringe theories and ignores decades of science. I will continue to protect New Jersey families from these senseless attacks on science and their children’s health.”

In a statement sent to Patch, an NJ Department of Health spokesperson said that while the department cannot comment on pending litigation, the state "remains committed to following the medical evidence and ensuring access to childhood vaccines."

"Vaccines keep kids safe and healthy," the spokesperson said. "New Jersey remains committed to following the medical evidence and ensuring access to childhood vaccines."

While New Jersey’s immunization requirements are in accordance with national immunization recommendations and guidelines, the NJ Department of Health establishes the minimum vaccine requirements for childcare centers, preschool, and school entry and attendance throughout the state.

According to the NJ Department of Health website, immunization requirements for children are as follows:

Childcare/Preschool

• DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis)
• Polio (Inactivated Poliovirus)
• Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae Type B)
• PCV 13 (Pneumococcal Conjugate)
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
• VAR (Varicella)
• IIL; LAIV (Influenza)

Kindergarten-1st Grade

• DTaP
• Polio (IPV)
• MMR
• Varicella
• Hepatitis B

2nd-5th Grade

• DTaP
• Polio (IPV)
• MMR
• Varicella (Chickenpox)
• Hepatitis B
• Tdap (dose information can be found here)

6th Grade & Higher

• DTaP
• Polio (IPV)
• MMR
• Varicella (Chickenpox)
• Hepatitis B
• Meningococcal
• Tdap

To learn more about New Jersey immunization and dose requirements, you can visit the NJ Department of Health website.

Related

• Major Changes To Childhood Vaccine Schedule Announced By CDC: What To Know In NJ

Editor's Note: This article has been updated with a statement from the NJ Department of Health.