The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, among other medical groups, joined the lawsuit against Kennedy.

Medical associations representing hundreds of thousands of doctors, medical professionals and scientists in the United States are suing the leaders of US health agencies for limiting who can get Covid-19 vaccines and for undermining overall vaccine confidence.

Carlene Pavlos, the executive director of the Massachusetts Public Health Alliance, said her organization was “deeply troubled” by Kennedy’s actions.