Press Release  Statement from Governor Healey on Federal Court Decision Blocking Changes to RFK’s Damaging Childhood Vaccine Guidance

Boston — Governor Maura Healey released the following statement in response to a federal court decision blocking changes made by President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to childhood vaccine recommendations. The Trump’s Administration’s vaccine schedule was widely criticized by pediatricians and other experts for putting the health and wellbeing of American children and families at risk. 

“Massachusetts continues to lead the way by basing our public health decisions on science, not politics. When President Trump and Secretary Kennedy tried to take away access to vaccines, we stepped up to protect residents and to make sure families here could still get the safe, effective immunizations they rely on. This decision does not change our approach, but it reinforces what we have said all along: those efforts were not about protecting public health. Our focus remains on what we have been doing from day one: protecting residents and making sure people have access to trusted, evidence-based care.” 

Governor Healey has taken decisive action to protect access to vaccines and ensure residents receive clear, science-based guidance, including taking immediate steps to guarantee residents access to vaccines statewide in response to shifting federal recommendations, requiring insurance companies to cover vaccines recommended by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) regardless of federal guidance, issuing independent, evidence-based vaccine guidance to provide residents with clear direction grounded in science, maintaining the full, evidence-based childhood immunization schedule aligned with leading medical organizations.  

The Healey-Driscoll Administration will continue to work with other states, public health experts, providers and community partners to protect the health and safety of Massachusetts residents.  

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