A healthcare worker puts a bandage on the baby after giving the vaccine. A up-to-date study shows that in many states, premiums and deductibles significantly reduce household incomes. (Scott Housley/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Governor Josh Shapiro has joined a multi-state lawsuit against the Trump administration over the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) decision to change the national childhood vaccination schedule.
The case is being led by Democratic attorneys general from Arizona and California. They are joined by Democratic attorneys general from 12 other states, as well as Shapiro, who serves as governor.
It names the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and their respective leaders, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya.
Last year, Kennedy, a longtime and outspoken vaccine skeptic, removed and replaced all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Then in January, the CDC issued a up-to-date schedule of childhood vaccinations which repealed universal vaccination recommendations against hepatitis A, influenza, meningococcal disease, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rotavirus. The move came after universal recommendations to vaccinate children against hepatitis B and against hepatitis B virus in children were abandoned.
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Vaccines that the CDC previously widely recommended for children are now recommended for children with underlying health conditions or as options that parents can discuss with their doctors.
The lawsuit alleged that the CDC’s vaccine panel was wrongfully replaced and that the up-to-date recommendations were illegal, unscientific and “posed a direct threat to public health.”
American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical organizations filed a lawsuit seeking to block the up-to-date endorsements last month.
A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement: “This is a publicity stunt disguised as a lawsuit. Under the law, the Secretary of Health has express authority to make decisions on the CDC’s vaccination schedule and the composition of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. CDC’s vaccine schedule reforms reflect commonsense public health policies shared by peer developed countries.”
Most of the 20 peer countries identifiedrecommended fewer than 18 vaccinations for children which the CDC has previously advocated. However, the United States currently recommends fewer vaccines than all countries except Denmark, which is itself an outlier.
Although Democratic attorneys general often bring more litigation against Republican presidential administrations — and vice versa — Shapiro has signed on to many of the lawsuits pursued by Democratic attorneys general as governor.
Before being elected governor, he served as Pennsylvania’s attorney general.
Republican Attorney General Dave Sunday has largely remained mute on the matter. Asked about the lawsuit by Capital-Star, a spokesman for his office said: “Generally, the Governor’s office has the ability to represent its executive agencies under the Commonwealth Solicitors Act.
