A group of medical professional societies, led by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), today argued in federal court that the changes to vaccine recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and other actions by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. violate the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

Today’s hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, in Boston, focused on the government’s motion to dismiss in AAP et al., v. Kennedy et al., and whether the plaintiffs have standing to bring suit. Plaintiffs alleged ongoing and continuous harms resulting from the Secretarial Directive and an improperly appointed ACIP.

Based on his line of questioning, U.S. District Court Judge Brian Murphy showed interest in a range of issues from the nature of ACIP recommendations, coverage and payment for ACIP-recommended vaccines, to the types of harms providers could experience. A decision on the government’s motion to dismiss is expected the first week of January.

Read the article, including a statement from MPHA.