Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton on Wednesday launched a sweeping investigation into unlawful financial incentives tied to childhood vaccine recommendations, targeting what his office says is a “multi-level, multi-industry scheme” that financially pressures medical providers to vaccinate children and forces kids to receive 70 shots from birth to age 18 to continue receiving medical care.
According to a press release, the investigation will determine whether pediatric medical providers, insurance companies, vaccine manufacturers, and related entities engaged in deceptive or unlawful conduct by offering undisclosed financial incentives connected to vaccine administration. Paxton’s office said the inquiry will also examine whether doctors’ compensation, bonuses, or continued employment were conditioned on meeting vaccination benchmarks rather than medical judgment.
The AG’s office initiated the investigation after Texas parents reported that children were dismissed from pediatric practices or denied care based on vaccination status. According to the attorney general’s office, the incentive structure under review operates through a “carrot and stick” system that rewards compliance with aggressive vaccine schedules while penalizing deviation.
As part of the probe, Paxton is issuing more than 20 civil investigative demands to major healthcare entities, including insurance providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers such as UnitedHealthcare and Pfizer, seeking records related to compensation structures, financial arrangements, and vaccine-related incentive programs.
“I will ensure that Big Pharma and Big Insurance don’t bribe medical providers to pressure parents to jab their kids with vaccines they feel aren’t safe or necessary,” Paxton said. “Texans deserve to have full faith in the recommendations of their medical providers—particularly when it involves the health of their children.”
Paxton said any provider or entity whose medical guidance is influenced by financial incentives from pharmaceutical or insurance companies will be exposed. The investigation aligns with broader national efforts under President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restore transparency and integrity to public health policy.
“Alongside President Trump and Secretary Kennedy’s significant efforts to ensure safety when it comes to childhood vaccines, my office will fight to protect kids’ health and uphold transparency in the medical industry,” Paxton added.
The Trump Administration has vocalized its commitment to gold standard science, deviating from Biden’s policy of “pushing as many possible shots into as many arms as possible.” Paxton said he is committed to supporting parental choice when it comes to childhood vaccinations.
