Larson Condemns RFK Jr.’s Push to Limit Childhood Vaccines

January 5, 2026 Press Release East Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) condemned Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcement gutting the childhood vaccine schedule , changing the number of recommended vaccinations from 17 to 11. If this policy goes into effect, immunizations for diseases such as RSV, influenza, and Hepatitis A will no longer be recommended to all children. “The longer Secretary Kennedy remains in his role, the more he will endanger the health of our nation’s children,” said Larson . “This latest move, bypassing even his handpicked advisory panel, is his newest low yet. Mr. Kennedy continues to put his anti-vaccine conspiracy theories ahead of scientific fact, destroying hard-won public health victories. He needs to resign before our kids pay the price for this anti-science agenda.” Last month, Secretary Kennedy’s vaccine panel reversed decades-long guidance for newborns to receive the Hepatitis B vaccine . In September, Larson called for Kennedy to resign after he doubled down on his anti-vaccine purge during a Senate hearing. Since he was sworn in, Kennedy has dismissed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that recommends vaccines, canceled $500 million in funding for vaccine research, and announced new restrictions on the COVID-19 vaccine . Connecticut currently leads the nation with a 98.3% childhood vaccination rate , avoiding measles outbreaks plaguing other states. Issues : Congressman Larson's Committees Health Care Standing Up to Trump and ‘DOGE’