00:02A federal judge has blocked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s sweeping changes to the
00:08nation's childhood vaccine schedule, a significant setback for one of the administration's most
00:14controversial health policy moves. The ruling sides largely with major medical groups that
00:19argued the administration improperly changed vaccine recommendations and reshaped the federal
00:25advisory panel that helps guide them. In his opinion, the judge sharply criticized the
00:30administration for bypassing the CDC's Independent Vaccine Advisory Committee, calling the move
00:36quote, a technical procedural failure itself and a strong indication of something more
00:42fundamentally problematic, an abandonment of the technical knowledge and expertise embodied by
00:48that committee. Kennedy removed all 17 members of that committee last year and replaced them with
00:53new appointees, several of whom have been critical of vaccines. Under Kennedy, federal health officials
01:00revised the childhood immunization schedule, reducing the number of diseases routinely
01:05recommended for vaccination. The judge also put on hold actions taken by Kennedy's reworked advisory
01:11panel, which had been scheduled to meet again this week in Atlanta. The Trump administration is
01:16already signaling it plans to fight the decision. In a statement to Straight Arrow News, a spokesperson
01:22for the Department of Health and Human Services said the administration, quote, looks forward to this judge's
01:27decision being overturned, just like his other attempts to keep the Trump administration from governing.
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