New Jersey has joined a multistate lawsuit challenging recent changes to the federal childhood vaccination schedule, state officials announced Tuesday.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the state is contesting a decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to reduce the number of routinely recommended childhood vaccines.
Until last month, federal health authorities recommended vaccines protecting against 17 diseases. The updated schedule removed six, including immunizations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and RSV.
The changes were approved under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who said the revisions align the U.S. schedule with those of other developed countries.
“After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus,” Kennedy said in a statement last month. “This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health.”
Davenport criticized the move, saying it could limit access to vaccines and increase health risks for children.
State officials argue that the revised schedule undermines public confidence in immunizations and ignores scientific evidence supporting the previous recommendations developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Acting Health Commissioner Raynard Washington said the changes could have serious consequences.
“These reckless vaccine policies not only hurt public trust; they will lead to preventable suffering and death,” Washington said in a statement.
Democratic officials have also argued that the revisions could embolden anti-vaccine activists, despite longstanding evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of childhood immunizations.
In December, President Donald Trump directed Kennedy to review how other countries structure their vaccination schedules and to consider changes if “superior” approaches were identified.
Federal officials say the resulting revisions were part of that review.
However, the states involved in the lawsuit contend that the internal memo supporting the changes was not based on scientific data and disregarded “overwhelming evidence” backing the prior schedule.
They also challenge Kennedy’s overhaul of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the CDC on vaccine policy.
Kennedy removed all 17 members of ACIP last summer and replaced them with 13 new appointees. The states argue that many of the new members lack the professional qualifications required for the role and that the restructuring was unlawful.
The lawsuit asks a federal judge to rule that both the revised vaccine schedule and the reconstitution of ACIP violate federal law.
The case is being led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, with New Jersey among 15 participating states. The suit is expected to be filed in California federal court.
Supporters of the revised schedule say it reflects international standards and promotes transparency and informed consent. Critics argue it weakens established public health protections and departs from decades of scientific guidance.
The legal challenges are likely to shape how childhood vaccination policy is set in the coming years, as courts weigh the authority of federal health officials against states’ concerns over public health and regulatory process.