Appeals court weighs block on Kennedy's vaccine panel appointments

A federal appeals court in Boston heard arguments on Oct. 6 over whether a judge improperly blocked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s handpicked members from serving on the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The Justice Department said U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy’s March 16 order effectively prevents ACIP from meeting because any new appointees could face further court blocks, undermining a quorum. Murphy found Kennedy failed the Federal Advisory Committee Act by selecting “distinctly unqualified” individuals and blocked 13 appointments. Plaintiffs urged the appeals court to leave the order, citing public-health protection and also noting Murphy had halted CDC childhood vaccination cuts and votes.