US Medical Groups, States Challenge Federal Vaccine Guidance Amid Policy Conflicts

Significant discord has emerged between the Trump administration's Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and established medical authorities over vaccine policies, particularly regarding COVID-19 vaccinations for children and pregnant individuals. Kennedy's directives include dismissing advisory panel experts and tightening COVID-19 vaccine approvals, prompting states like New York and other Northeastern states to consider regional vaccine guidance separate from federal recommendations. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology continue to recommend COVID-19 vaccines for young children and pregnant women, contradicting the CDC's current stance under Kennedy's leadership, which advises against vaccinating healthy children. Former CDC acting director Dr. Richard Besser criticized the HHS for abandoning evidence-based guidelines and populating advisory committees with anti-vaccine advocates, highlighting risks to vulnerable populations. Kennedy has warned medical groups they risk losing malpractice liability protections if they do not follow federal vaccine recommendations, intensifying tensions within the medical community. This leadership turmoil, combined with the firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez amid vaccine policy shifts, has raised oversight concerns from the U.S. Senate's HELP Committee about public health integrity.