Rob Bonta announced Feb. 17 that California is preparing to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration following recent changes to the federal childhood immunization schedule.
The revised schedule was issued Jan. 5 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with support from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who currently leads the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The changes narrowed the number of vaccines routinely recommended for children and shifted several immunizations to a “shared clinical decision-making” model between parents and health care providers.
In an interview with Reuters, Bonta said his office has mobilized to assess jurisdictional and legal grounds for a potential complaint against HHS. He emphasized that any action taken by the state would be rooted in scientific evidence and public health standards.
Bonta did not provide a timeline for filing or confirm whether the lawsuit would be pursued jointly with other states. However, William Tong indicated that Connecticut may join California in a multistate action.
Under the updated CDC guidance, broad routine recommendations were removed for vaccines protecting against rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B. The agency stated in a Jan. 5 memorandum that these vaccinations should now be determined through consultation between families and medical providers.
The revisions follow a directive from Donald Trump instructing HHS and the CDC to review the U.S.
immunization schedule and compare it with those of peer nations, including Denmark, Japan, and Germany, which recommend fewer vaccines and doses in certain cases.
In a December fact sheet, the White House stated that if HHS and the CDC determine that practices in other developed countries are supported by stronger scientific evidence, federal agencies are directed to align U.S. recommendations accordingly, while maintaining access to existing vaccines.
The updated schedule has also drawn legal challenges from medical organizations.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups filed suit on Jan. 19, alleging that federal officials did not adequately review relevant data or provide sufficient justification for the changes. A federal judge heard arguments on Feb. 13 and is currently considering whether to block implementation of the revised schedule.
HHS has defended the policy shift, stating that vaccine recommendations are based on scientific evidence and public health considerations, and emphasizing that the department’s decisions are made independently of pharmaceutical industry influence.
HHS did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.
