15 states sue HHS; 2026 State of the Union and health care; youth obesity hits a record high — Morning Medical Update Weekly Recap

15 states sue HHS over changes to childhood vaccine recommendations

A coalition of 15 Democratic-led states — represented by 14 state attorneys general and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro — filed suit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over January’s shift in the federal childhood immunization recommendations.

The complaint alleges that the administration sidestepped the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and moved several vaccines — including COVID-19, rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease, RSV, hepatitis A and hepatitis B — away from universal recommendation toward high-risk or shared clinical decision-making categories.

State officials argue the change will confuse parents and clinicians, lower vaccination rates and increase outbreaks of preventable disease. California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office cited the ongoing measles outbreak, which is the worst in the nation since the 1990s. HHS has defended the shift and dismissed the lawsuit as political. More from Reuters.

Trump touts drug pricing, transparency in marathon State of the Union

President Donald Trump devoted about five minutes of his record-long 2026 State of the Union address to health care, using the time to criticize the Affordable Care Act, promote his proposed “Great Health Care Plan” and renew calls for tougher price transparency rules. He said his administration’s “Most Favored Nation” drug-pricing deals are already lowering costs and directed viewers to TrumpRx.gov, claiming Americans can now access some brand-name medications at prices comparable to or lower than those in other wealthy nations. Trump also urged Congress to codify the drug-pricing program into law. For more, check out “Trump and health care: 8 key points from the State of the Union.”

Youth obesity rates hit record high; adult rates level off

Child and teen obesity in the U.S. has reached its highest level ever recorded, with 21.1% of Americans ages 2 to 19 classified as having obesity between August 2021 and August 2023, including 7% with severe obesity, according to CDC data. That compares with 40.3% of adults classified as having obesity during the same period — a slight decline from 42.4% in 2017–2018 — suggesting adult rates may be stabilizing. The youth figures align with separate 2024 EHR data published in JAMA Network Open showing roughly one in five adolescents living with obesity, underscoring growing concern about long-term cardiometabolic risks in younger populations.