Center for Health Policy and Law Celebrates Landmark Ruling Blocking Trump Administration’s Changes to Childhood Immunization Schedule

A federal judge has issued a sweeping preliminary injunction blocking RFK Jr.’s changes to the childhood vaccine schedule, with Northeastern Law’s Center for Health Policy and Law among those filing briefs challenging the scientific validity of the assessment HHS relied upon to justify the alterations.

Center for Health Policy and Law Celebrates Landmark Ruling Blocking Trump Administration’s Changes to Childhood Immunization Schedule
Professor Wendy Parmet (left) and Shannon Rempe

03.16.26 — U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy has issued a sweeping preliminary injunction in American Academy of Pediatrics et al. v. Kennedy et al., staying key actions taken by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. related to childhood vaccines since May 2025, finding they likely violated both the Administrative Procedure Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. In his opinion, Judge Murphy wrote that “Plaintiffs and amici have demonstrated that there is a substantial risk to public health absent preliminary relief.” Among the briefs submitted was one submitted by Northeastern Law's Center for Health Policy and Law and partners focused on invalidating the Høeg/Kuldorff Assessment that HHS relied upon to alter the childhood vaccine schedule, arguing it employed no generally accepted scientific methodology and contained misleading comparisons to other countries.

The brief was drafted by Professor Wendy Parmet, faculty co-director of CHPL; Professor Dorit Reiss of UC Law San Francisco; and Shannon Rempe, program director for CHPL's Advancing Public Health and Health Equity in the Courts program — in collaboration with epidemiologists and vaccine experts at Defend Public Health and attorneys from Hooper, Lundy & Bookman. Kristin Meader ’27 provided research support through Northeastern Law's Public Health Advocacy Clinic, and Lilly Jangala ’28, Victoria McFadden ’27, Mariel Manzor ’27 and Luna An ’27 assisted with research and cite-checking.

“This ruling is a victory for science, for truth, and most importantly, for children! It reaffirms that evidence-based medicine, not political ideology, should guide public health practice,” said Parmet and Rempe in a joint statement. “We are proud to have filed an amicus brief in this case and grateful to have done so alongside so many of our partners in this work.”

While the ruling is a meaningful victory for public health, the Department of Justice may appeal. CHPL will continue to monitor the case and support litigation efforts as needed. This was the second amicus brief in the case filed by CHPL and DPH — continuing a partnership that has supported litigation efforts throughout its proceedings, and whose first brief was cited by Judge Murphy in his January 2026 order denying the government's motion to dismiss.

CHPL’s work is supported in part by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, awarded in 2025 to facilitate and coordinate the filing of amicus briefs in support of public health and health equity.

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