Trump administration vaccine policy and RFK Jr. health agency oversight
One page that accretes the verified record as the story develops. Every fact keeps its date and its sources.
Ken Paxton stirs vaccine skepticism to align with Maha movement
Children's Health Defense sued the AAP for racketeering on the same day that Paxton announced he would investigate pediatricians.
Robert F Kennedy Jr has made at least $2.5 million in referrals for lawsuits related to vaccine side effects to the law firm Wisner Baum.
Only 93.3% of kindergarteners in Texas are fully vaccinated against measles.
“That does not cover the time of a nurse to talk to the parents, review the shot record, draw up the vaccine, give the injection, provide the education. It’s way more than six bucks for me to do that in a health department, and I’m a low-cost, low-overhead entity.”
Doctor groups fill in for CDC during flu season
The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America have posted vaccination guidelines for their patient populations.
The CDC's independent advisory panel is caught in a court battle and the CDC has not updated its flu advice this year.
Medical societies agree that just about everybody starting at age 6 months needs flu vaccination.
FDA commissioner nominee Dr. Heidi Overton appears for confirmation hearing
Sanders disputed what caused the decline in prescription drug prices, suggesting it may have been due to legislation passed several years ago.
Overton said 89% of branded drugs are covered by agreements to lower prices for U.S. consumers.
Sen. Bernie Sanders repeatedly pressed Overton to endorse universal healthcare as a human right during the hearing.
CDC under RFK Jr. blocks states from ordering COVID-19 shots for kids
Demetre Daskalakis is a former director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases and chief medical officer at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. currently runs the Department of Health and Human Services.
At least 11 states and one US territory participate in a universal vaccine purchase program through VFC contracts.
Trump officials delay Covid shots for kids
Robert F Kennedy Jr said at an anti-vaccine conference that the administration has not taken vaccines away from anyone and has preserved access.
HHS is not providing Covid vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program, and there is no timeline on when the vaccines will be sent.
States with universal purchase programs include Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming.
RFK Jr. received $4 million in book advances from MAHA allies
Kennedy Jr. has written several books with Skyhorse Publishing, including The Real Anthony Fauci and The Wuhan Cover-Up.
Skyhorse Publishing belongs to Tony Lyons.
The book advances were for upcoming books by Skyhorse Publishing.
Cassidy urges Trump to be 'radically honest' on vaccines amid measles outbreak
The U.S. has recorded the most measles cases in more than three decades in 2026.
Trump said he is going to "demand" that drug companies split up kids' vaccines into five doses, given in six-month intervals.
Trump's nominee for surgeon general, Nicole Saphier, said in a committee hearing that the MMR vaccine is not lethal.
RFK Jr. tells vaccine-skeptic group they have a friend in the White House
Dr. Fiona Havers said Children's Health Defense has spread false and misleading information that contributed to declining vaccination rates.
During his confirmation hearings in 2025, Kennedy said he supports vaccines and would not prevent access to them.
Kennedy delivered the keynote address at a conference hosted by Children's Health Defense in Washington, D.C.
Trump surgeon general pick backs MMR vaccine, rejects autism link
Saphier said the hepatitis B vaccine is one of the most tangible ways to prevent cancer.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the Health and Human Services Secretary.
Saphier said she does not believe the MMR vaccine to be lethal.
“Chairman Cassidy, you're speaking to someone who tells people they have cancer every day. And the hepatitis B vaccine is one of the most tangible ways we have to prevent cancer,”
US surgeon general nominee disclosed $270,000 income from supplement company
Saphier disclosed investments in tobacco company Philip Morris International.
Saphier is Trump's third pick for surgeon general after his first two failed to advance in the Senate.
Saphier received $270,605 in business income from her company Empower MD, LLC.
Maha movement's limitations show amid food-borne illnesses, funding cuts and layoffs
In 2025, the head of the food division at the FDA resigned because he said he was unable to do his job with so many cuts to his staff.
The Trump administration cut almost $200 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap).
The only Maha food achievement to date is the recommendation to replace nine synthetic food dyes.
“Instead of actually talking about the genuine problems and the genuine causes of the problems, we have to be distracted by red dyes and seed oils and this idea that all of our public health institutions are corrupt – because the goal of this administration was to defund our public health institutions and other federal agencies. So if you have a movement that can erode trust even further in those public health institutions, which we see Kennedy doing, that really helps the administration to then be able to defund the public health institutions.”
Maryland issues independent vaccine guidance for first time since split from federal government
Maryland recommends an annual high-dose flu vaccine for adults 65 and older.
The state Vax Act, passed earlier in 2026, gave Seshamani authority to tie Maryland's vaccine guidance to major medical associations rather than federal health agencies.
Maryland recommends an annual COVID shot for adults 65 and older and a second dose 6 months later.
RFK Jr. reportedly ordered measles deaths removed from CDC tally
The two deaths were added and then removed from the CDC's website within hours on August 30.
Pennsylvania's ongoing measles outbreak has sickened 540 people so far, including 119 in the last week.
CDC staff had already reviewed information about the two deaths and accepted the characterization that they were measles-related before the deletion.
RFK Jr. claims measles deaths may have been 'fabricated'; Shapiro spars with RFK Jr. over measles and vaccines
As of Friday, Pennsylvania had reported 424 confirmed measles cases and 73 hospitalizations.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health stated that not all deaths are referred to a coroner under state law.
These were the first measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania in 35 years.
Trump administration pushes food transparency initiatives
Congress passed the Food Additives Amendment in 1958.
The proposed rule would require the FDA to maintain a public list of GRAS notices.
The FDA reviewed tara flour and found that it did not meet the standard for GRAS.
RFK Jr. questions Pennsylvania measles deaths report amid newborn measles death
Kennedy alleged on his official X account that the deaths may have been fabricated by one of the Governor's staffers.
The US has tallied nearly 2,800 measles cases so far in 2026, the highest total since 1991.
One of the two Pennsylvania measles deaths occurred in a newborn baby.
“Two more Americans are dead because RFK Jr. has spent his career promoting discredited claims, dangerous conspiracies, and quack cures. Instead of using his position as HHS secretary to provide clear advice to Americans on how to keep their children safe from the measles, he has used his megaphone to spread confusion and chaos — with deadly consequences.”
Senator calls for criminal investigation of RFK Jr after Guardian report
Senator Ron Wyden called for a criminal investigation into Robert F. Kennedy Jr. following Guardian reporting that indicated Kennedy lied during Senate confirmation hearings.
Senator Ed Markey said the records show it was false when Kennedy said his trip had "nothing to do with vaccines" and called for Kennedy to leave office.
Kennedy testified during confirmation hearings that his 2019 trip to Samoa had "nothing to do with vaccines."
Newly revealed documents indicate RFK Jr lied in Senate confirmation hearings
A measles outbreak in Samoa killed 83 people, mostly children under five.
The two nurses involved in the improperly mixed vaccine incident were criminally charged and ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
The Samoan prime minister responded welcoming CHD's independent health assessment of MMR vaccines and the proposed visit.
“Secretary Kennedy’s visit to Samoa in 2019 was unrelated to vaccines. Any claim or insinuation based on these letters that Secretary Kennedy lied under oath or to Congress is not only false but outright defamatory.”
Pennsylvania reports two measles-related deaths as RFK questions whether they were fabricated
Nearly 200 individuals in Lancaster County have tested positive for measles.
The two measles-related deaths were the first in Pennsylvania in 35 years.
Shapiro joined a lawsuit earlier in 2026 against Kennedy's department's decision to scale back federal vaccine recommendations for children.
Trump administration signals possible changes to childhood vaccine schedule
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is a longtime vaccine skeptic.
Trump's executive order called for breaking up the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into separate shots.
HHS is considering new categories for vaccines, such as "recommended, but not during infancy" or "recommended with qualification."
HHS plans new FDA deputy commissioner roles for technology and drugs
Marty Makary resigned over the FDA's authorization of fruit-flavored vapes.
Jared Seehafer is the leading candidate for the technology deputy commissioner role.
The FDA earlier in August 2026 granted accelerated approval to Replimune for its melanoma drug, Tudriqev, following two prior rejections.
RFK Jr. may change vaccine recommendation categories
Kennedy laid out ideas for changing vaccine recommendation categories in a Request for Information posted online Friday and published in the Federal Register on Monday.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the Health Secretary.
There are currently three categories of vaccination recommendations granted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CDC Reports Record Vaccine Exemption Rates Among US Kindergarteners
Dr. Mysheika Roberts was scheduled to join the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices before Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed her in June 2025.
An executive order signed by Donald Trump called for the United States to decrease the number of routine childhood vaccines from 17 diseases to 11 and to separate the MMR vaccine into three distinct doses.
CDC data indicated that measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination rates among kindergarteners fell by 0.1% between the last two school years to 92.4%.
“If we had a secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) who was an actual secretary of HHS instead of an anti-vaccine activist and science denialist, he would stand up in front of the American public and say, ‘Vaccinate your children.’ – please, vaccinate your children,”
Public Health Experts Criticize Trump Administration Vaccine Policy Review
The public was provided a 30-day window to submit comments on the notice.
The public consultation requested feedback on evaluating scientific evidence strength and approaching situations where randomized controlled trial evidence is limited or absent.
Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing federal agencies to pare back vaccine recommendations.
“Public input received in response to this notice will help inform consideration by the Department and the Task Force of whether the current category structure adequately serves the goals of scientific rigor, informed choice, and public trust,”
CNBC Reports on Public Vaccine Hesitancy Trends in the US
The U.S. reported 2,566 confirmed measles cases and 38 new outbreaks across 47 jurisdictions in a single year, marking a 35-year high.
According to the CDC, over 93% of individuals infected with measles were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.
In a survey by KFF presenting adults with four common vaccine myths, fewer than 1 in 10 respondents stated that each myth was definitely true.
“All of a sudden, vaccine science has become a political issue or a partisan issue in a way that we've never seen before, and it is really, really challenging to be part of the American public and not know which message to trust because we are seeing different messages come out from the government, from our healthcare providers, from different health authorities, and people really have to then decide,”
Michigan Maintains Childhood Vaccine Requirements Despite Federal Executive Order
“It's really important for parents to turn to their pediatricians, the people who have been taking care of their children, who have their children's best interests at heart, who know the evidence. Vaccination shouldn't be political, but we live in a time when there [are] all kinds of signaling about health positions based on politics, and I think this is a great example about why that can be very dangerous.”
Guardian editorial criticizes Trump's MMR executive order
No other country recommends single measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines.
GSK and Merck & Co stated that no published scientific evidence supports splitting the MMR vaccine into single shots.
Donald Trump signed an executive order advising states to offer separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines.
“beautiful, healthy, lovely, delicate little children”
Former CDC adviser downplays kindergarten vaccination decline
The CDC released vaccination data for the 2025-2026 school year on Monday
Malone told Fox News Digital that the decline in kindergarten vaccination rates is nothing to be concerned about
Malone said measles cases are rising globally and that vaccination remains the most effective protection against infection
“The latest CDC data indicates a 0.1% year-in-year decline in the uptake or acceptance of the vaccine schedule among kindergartners. In certain contexts, the average across the United States shows roughly a 1% shift. Regardless, we are still talking about a very low single-digit lack of compliance with the CDC's recommended vaccine schedule,”
Former CDC advisor says decline in kindergarten vaccinations is not concerning
“The latest CDC data indicates a 0.1% year-in-year decline in the uptake or acceptance of the vaccine schedule among kindergartners. In certain contexts, the average across the United States shows roughly a 1% shift. Regardless, we are still talking about a very low single-digit lack of compliance with the CDC's recommended vaccine schedule,”
FDA approves first mRNA flu vaccine for older adults
The FDA reversed Prasad's rejection the following week.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. canceled a federal campaign to encourage flu shots during a bad flu season.
Prasad was pushed out of the FDA at the end of April.
Republican senator slams CDC over autism and vaccines website
Schwartz was previously the deputy surgeon general.
Sen. Bill Cassidy is a Republican senator from Louisiana.
Trump pulled the nominations of Janette Nesheiwat and Casey Means.
“We don't care enough about you to tell the truth. We want to continue to promote that which has been proven false, but we don't want to admit it, whoever we is.”
Lawmakers call for CDC to track vitamin K shot refusals
The HHS spokesperson said uptake of the vitamin K shot has declined in recent years as public trust in health care institutions has fallen, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal and state agencies were not tracking vital data related to vitamin K shot refusal.
The federal government does not currently track vitamin K shot refusal, vitamin K deficiency bleeding, or preventable deaths related to vitamin K deficiency.