Arabic version: تحدي الولايات لإدارة ترامب بشأن تغييرات سياسة اللقاحات

More than a dozen states, including California and Arizona, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over recent changes to vaccine recommendations for children. The states argue that the new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) poses an illegal threat to public health by putting children’s lives at risk.

According to The Guardian, the CDC’s revised recommendations, announced last month, no longer suggest that all children receive immunizations against several diseases, including flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis, and RSV. Instead, vaccinations are now recommended only for specific high-risk groups or based on individual doctor recommendations through a process known as “shared decision-making.”

The lawsuit highlights concerns that the new vaccine guidelines contradict established medical advice and could force states to incur additional costs to manage potential outbreaks. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes emphasized that the health and safety of children should not be politicized.

In response, Emily G Hilliard, a press secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services, dismissed the lawsuit as a “publicity stunt dressed up as a lawsuit.” The legal action reflects ongoing tensions between Democratic-led states and the Trump administration regarding changes to public health policies.

The lawsuit follows an earlier initiative by Democratic governors from California, Washington, and Oregon, who sought to create their own vaccine recommendations in response to perceived federal politicization of health guidelines. While states maintain the authority to mandate vaccinations for schoolchildren, CDC recommendations often shape state policies.