Quick Summary
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s plan to shift vaccine schedule authority from federal agencies to state boards faces a significant legal hurdle from a nearly 80-year-old U.S. public health law.
What Happened
Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. proposes moving vaccine schedule decisions to state medical licensing boards, away from federal bodies like the CDC. This plan clashes with the Public Health Service Act of 1944, a pivotal law granting broad authority to the U.S. Public Health Service—including the CDC, FDA, and NIH—for disease prevention and public health.
Why It Matters
This 1944 Act underpins the federal government’s long-standing role in vaccine recommendations and public health policy. Legal experts suggest RFK Jr.’s state-centric approach would necessitate a major legislative overhaul, directly confronting established federal jurisdiction. “It’s a foundational piece of legislation defining federal health authority,” noted one legal analyst.
Bottom Line
Any attempt to overhaul national vaccine governance as RFK Jr. envisions faces considerable legal barriers due to the Public Health Service Act, illustrating the enduring strength of federal health mandates.
