U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is once again shaking up the status quo — this time drawing fire from major medical groups over his move to rethink how America handles COVID-19 vaccines for children and expectant mothers.
On Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, and other establishment players filed a lawsuit aiming to block Kennedy’s recent directive to remove the COVID-19 vaccine from the CDC’s routine immunization schedule for healthy kids and pregnant women. They argue the change could undermine trust in all vaccines, but Kennedy’s supporters see it as a long-overdue stand for parental choice and honest science.
For decades, Kennedy has challenged what he calls a “one-size-fits-all” approach to public health, urging a closer look at medical evidence and individual risk factors rather than blanket mandates. His May decision to update the CDC schedule reflects that philosophy: respecting families who believe that mass COVID vaccination — especially for children at minimal risk of severe disease — may not be the best approach for everyone.
Critics claim Kennedy’s actions are reckless; supporters argue that they restore balance and transparency to a system that is too quick to silence dissent. “We trust American families to weigh risks and benefits, not be bullied into medical choices by panels stacked with pharmaceutical insiders,” said one HHS advisor.
Kennedy’s overhaul of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, replacing 17 longtime members with a new group of independent thinkers, also signals his intent to challenge entrenched interests. While opponents predict more clashes over vaccine policies ahead, Kennedy’s allies believe this fight is about empowering people with better information, more freedom, and real trust in public health.
Whether the courts side with the plaintiffs or uphold Kennedy’s reforms, one thing is clear: RFK Jr. isn’t backing down from pushing for a more accountable system