California officials are gearing up for a legal battle against the Trump administration’s recent modifications to federal childhood vaccination guidelines, according to the state’s top prosecutor.
Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Tuesday that his office is developing a lawsuit to contest the policy changes implemented under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Bonta leads the legal team for the nation’s most populated state.
During a Tuesday interview, Bonta also indicated he might consider collaborating with the Trump administration to reduce extensive federal protections that shield pharmaceutical companies from lawsuits related to alleged vaccine harm.
The Department of Health and Human Services has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
Legal action from California would intensify pressure on the current administration, as healthcare professionals and public health authorities have cautioned that these policy shifts may result in declining immunization rates across the country.
Since assuming his role, Kennedy has dramatically altered established vaccination policies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released an updated immunization framework that eliminated blanket recommendations for vaccines protecting against rotavirus, flu, meningococcal disease, and both hepatitis A and B. The new approach emphasizes that families should discuss vaccination decisions with their doctors through what officials term “shared clinical decision-making.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics, along with other prominent medical associations, has already filed legal challenges aimed at blocking the revised vaccine schedule. Their lawsuit contends the overhaul lacks legal authority and scientific backing. The litigation seeks to remove Kennedy’s appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and reverse their determinations.
Speaking with reporters Tuesday, both Bonta and Connecticut’s Attorney General William Tong criticized Kennedy’s stance on vaccines. Regarding potential litigation, Bonta stated his “team is mobilized” and is “looking at what the complaint looks like, where to file, what our standing is, all the, all the things we have to have locked in.”
Bonta declined to share specific details about the planned legal action, including its expected filing date. Tong similarly indicated urgency, saying “we’re scrambling our jets.” A representative from his office later confirmed Connecticut is collaborating with California on a possible multi-state court filing.
Current federal law requires most individuals seeking to sue vaccine manufacturers to present their cases to a specialized vaccine court operated by HHS. This system aims to resolve claims efficiently while limiting financial awards and reducing company liability.
Kennedy and his supporters have long criticized this program, partly because HHS attorneys defend these cases instead of pharmaceutical companies directly. Prior to leading HHS, Kennedy represented clients claiming vaccine-related injuries and played a key role in organizing large-scale legal action against Merck regarding its Gardasil vaccine. Federal judges sided with Merck in numerous instances.
While Bonta expressed doubt about sweeping legal protections Congress has granted to certain industries, including vaccine producers, he emphasized his reluctance to support Kennedy’s anti-vaccine positions.
“I like the facts. I like science. I don’t want to give any airtime to his– I mean, just conspiracy bullshit,” Bonta said.
“Can there be an example of a pharmaceutical company that did something wrong, and hurt people based on the facts, and they’re enjoying absolute immunity when they should have accountability? Yeah, that’s possible,” Bonta added.
