What the Health? From KFF Health News: RFK Jr.’s Vaccine ...

What’s Happening

So get this: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.

’s effort to change how the federal government recommends vaccines against childhood diseases was dealt at least a temporary setback in federal court this week. A judge in Massachusetts sided with a coalition of public health groups arguing that changes to the vaccine schedule violated federal law. (yes, really)

[] The Host Julie Rovner KFF Health News @jrovner @julierovner.

The Details

Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News’ weekly health policy news podcast, “What the Health? ” A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book “Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z,” now in its third edition.

The Trump administration dropped it would appeal the judge’s ruling. Meanwhile, some of the same public health groups continue to worry about the slow pace of grantmaking at the National Institutes of Health, which, for the second straight year, is having trouble getting money appropriated the door to researchers.

Why This Matters

This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post. Panelists Alice Miranda Ollstein Politico @AliceOllstein @alicemiranda. Margot Sanger-Katz The New York Times @sangerkatz Read Margots stories.

Medical professionals are taking note of this development.

The Bottom Line

Lauren Weber The Washington Post @LaurenWeberHP Read Laurens stories. Among the takeaways from this week’s episode: The latest decision on potential changes to the federal childhood vaccine schedule, even if ultimately reversed by a higher court, may re-elevate the vaccine issue as midterm campaigns kick into gear — and just as the Trump administration is trying to downplay it.

What’s your take on this whole situation?