Judge Halts Controversial Vaccine Policy Overhaul

A federal judge has blocked key portions of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s initiative to restructure U.S. vaccine policy. The ruling impedes efforts to lessen the number of recommended childhood vaccinations.

Medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, argue the administration's actions could reduce vaccination rates, posing a public health risk. Judge Brian Murphy found these reforms undermined decades of scientific vaccine development.

The decision also nullifies appointments to a pivotal vaccine advisory panel and invalidates previous votes taken under Kennedy's policy shifts. With potential appeals ahead, the ruling is seen as a victory for evidence-based medicine.