First Circuit reviews Trump admin’s bid to lift injunction on Kennedy vaccine policy changes

The U.S. Department of Justice, representing the Trump administration, urged the Boston-based First Circuit Court of Appeals on Oct. 6 to reverse a preliminary injunction that halted Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s effort to revamp federal childhood vaccine policy.

The injunction, issued in March by U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, blocked the administration from implementing key changes to the immunization schedule and stayed all decisions made by CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) panelists appointed by Kennedy between June 2025 and January 2026, including the committee members themselves.

Government argues the plaintiffs lack standing

At the appeal, DOJ attorney Matthew Charles Zorn contended that the public‑health groups, led by the American Academy of Pediatrics, cannot challenge the case because there is no final agency action to review. He asked the panel to vacate the stay and send the matter back for clarification.

Public‑health groups defend the injunction

Representing the American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups, attorney Andrew Pincus urged the judges to keep Murphy’s injunction in place. He said the lawsuit is about preventing a “legal building block” that could later be used to overturn CDC vaccine recommendations that protect children and pregnant women.

What the policy changes would have meant

Under Kennedy’s plan, broad recommendations would be stripped from the childhood schedule, Covid‑19 shots would be limited, and the ACIP’s authority to change vaccine policy would be overhauled. The CDC had already moved several vaccines—hepatitis B birth dose, rotavirus, meningococcal, hepatitis A, influenza, Covid‑19 and RSV—from universal recommendations to a high‑risk or shared‑decision‑making approach.

Impact on ordinary families

If the injunction were lifted, the revised schedule could affect all children receiving routine immunizations in the United States. Parents might find certain vaccines no longer offered automatically at pediatric visits and would need to discuss “shared clinical decision‑making” with their doctors. No specific deadlines were mentioned in the filing, but any change would likely roll out through CDC guidance after the appellate decision.

Anyone concerned about how these potential changes could affect their child’s health should monitor updates from the CDC and consider speaking with a pediatrician about vaccine options. Consulting a lawyer may be helpful if you face a dispute over vaccine requirements for school or employment.

This article is general information based on Courthouse News Service and court or agency records available at publication time. It is not legal advice; laws and deadlines differ by state and by case. Published October 7, 2026.