HJNO May/Jun 2026

34 MAY / JUN 2026  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS   Healthcare Briefs Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Changes to U.S. Vaccine Advisory System A federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked major changes to the nation’s vaccine advisory system and childhood immunization sched- ule while a legal challenge to the policy moves forward. The ruling preserves the existing fed- eral vaccine advisory framework while the court reviews the legality of the policy changes. In a ruling issued March 16, 2026, U.S. Dis- trict Judge Brian E. Murphy of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted a preliminary injunction in part in the case American Academy of Pediatrics et al. v. Kennedy. The court’s order can be viewed here: https://litigationtracker.law.georgetown . edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/American- Academy-of-Pediatrics_2026.03.16_ORDER-ON- MOTION-FOR-PRELIMINARY-INJUNCTION.pdf The lawsuit was filed by several national medi- cal organizations challenging actions taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The plaintiffs argue the federal government vio- lated administrative law when it restructured the federal advisory committee that guides vaccine recommendations and revised the national child- hood immunization schedule. In his ruling, Judge Murphy wrote that the plain- tiffs demonstrated a likelihood of success on one of their central legal claims. “Plaintiffs are likely to succeed in showing that the reconstitution of ACIP and the January 2026 changes to the childhood immunization sched- ule violate the Administrative Procedure Act,” the order states. The Administrative Procedure Act governs how federal agencies develop and implement policy, including requirements for proper procedures when significant policy changes are made. The judge concluded that the government’s actions likely failed to comply with those procedural requirements. The court’s order also temporarily stays the appointments of 13 newly named members to the federal vaccine advisory committee that helps shape national vaccine policy. That com- mittee — the Advisory Committee on Immuni- zation Practices, or ACIP — advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine recommendations. Judge Murphy’s order stays the appointments of the newly named committee members while the court considers whether the panel was recon- stituted in violation of federal law. Because the court found the reconstituted com- mittee likely violated legal requirements, the order also stays the effectiveness of votes taken by the reconstituted panel. Those votes included recommendations concerning influenza vaccines, hepatitis B vaccines, and COVID-19 vaccines. The ruling effectively restores the previous advisory framework while the legal challenge proceeds. The court also stayed a January 2026 memoran- dum that revised the federal childhood immuniza- tion schedule. According to the order, that memo revised the schedule of routinely recommended childhood vaccines and shifted several recom- mendations to a shared decision-making model between physicians and patients. The court con- cluded the changes were likely implemented without following the procedural steps required under federal law. Judge Murphy wrote that the government’s approach bypassed the established advisory process. The judge also noted that Congress required the involvement of the advisory committee in the development of immunization schedules. The lawsuit was filed by several national physi- cian and public health organizations, including: • American Academy of Pediatrics • American College of Physicians • American Public Health Association • Infectious Diseases Society of America The organizations argue that the federal gov- ernment disrupted the longstanding scientific review process used to develop vaccine recom- mendations in the United States. The preliminary injunction does not represent a final ruling on the merits of the case. Instead, it temporarily pauses the policy changes and restores the prior advisory framework while the court reviews whether the federal government followed the procedures required under federal law when altering vaccine policy. Further proceedings will determine whether the challenged actions ultimately comply with the Administrative Procedure Act and other statutes governing how federal public health guidance is developed. Louisiana Health Leaders Affirm Support for AAP 2026 Immunization Schedule Leading Louisiana health organizations and community partners reaffirmed their support for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2026 Immunization Schedule, emphasizing that Louisiana families deserve continued access to evidence-based, nationally recognized vaccine guidance. Their reaffirmed support follows recent fed- eral changes to the immunization schedule that removed routine recommendations for several diseases, including hepatitis, meningitis, and HPV. The AAP 2026 schedule remains consistent with 2025 recommendations, advising protec- tion against 18 serious diseases and reflecting the national standard of care supported by pedi- atricians and family physicians across the country. Louisiana organizations aligned in support of the AAP 2026 Immunization Schedule include: • 10,000 Women Louisiana • Allon Babies • Autism Society of Greater New Orleans • Health Heroes of Louisiana • Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians • Louisiana Chapter of the American Acad- emy of Pediatrics • Louisiana Families for Vaccines • Louisiana Public Health Institute • March of Dimes • New Orleans Health Department • Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum • Orleans Parish Medical Society • Sun Wellness Resource Center “These recommendations are grounded in decades of rigorous research and clinical exper- tise,” said Natashia Cheatham, executive director of the Louisiana Chapter of the American Acad- emy of Pediatrics. “Our pediatricians remain com- mitted to protecting Louisiana’s children through science-based prevention. Vaccination remains one of the most effective tools we have to safe- guard child health.” “The vast majority of families choose vac- cination when guided by trusted healthcare