Big Pharma Gets Win in RFK Jr. Vaccine Pause, Unsure If It Lasts

March 17, 2026, 9:47 PM UTC

A federal judge’s decision to block US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s changes to the national childhood immunization schedule hands an indirect, if temporary, win to a pharmaceutical industry that’s maintained its vaccines are safe and effective.

Kennedy’s unprecedented move to shrink the number of recommended shots for children, along with hand-picking members for a federal vaccine committee, was halted by a federal district judge Monday.

“The court’s decision affirms that U.S. vaccine recommendations must follow a rigorous, science-based process,” said Mike Ybarra, chief medical officer for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a leading industry group that ...

Learn more about Bloomberg Law or Log In to keep reading:

See Breaking News in Context

Bloomberg Law provides trusted coverage of current events enhanced with legal analysis.

Already a subscriber?

Log in to keep reading or access research tools and resources.