U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order advocating for a reduction in childhood vaccinations by streamlining the inoculation schedule to 11 vaccines. Trump stated that this approach would offer top-tier protection for American children and bring the country in line with other nations that recommend fewer shots. The order aligns with the objectives of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been a vocal opponent of vaccines and has promoted a debunked connection between vaccines and autism.
One of the key recommendations in the order is to divide the childhood MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine into three separate shots administered during different medical visits. Earlier in the year, Kennedy had revised the U.S. immunization schedule to eliminate vaccinations for six out of 17 diseases, a move that was later halted by a federal court ruling. The current order specifies that the federal government will only endorse the remaining 11 vaccinations.
While the executive order proposes updated vaccine guidelines, it emphasizes that individual states hold the jurisdiction to mandate vaccinations for schoolchildren. The order encourages states with such mandates to consider adjusting their laws to reflect the recommended schedule outlined by the administration. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt commended the order for enhancing clarity and transparency in vaccine recommendations, while Democratic governors J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania criticized the directive for spreading misinformation amid rising measles cases in the country.
The order also tasks the Justice Department with challenging state vaccination laws, directing the attorney general to litigate against state statutes that conflict with parental rights, religious freedoms, disability accommodations, and equal protection, including rules on religious and medical exemptions from immunization requirements.
Medical associations, public health experts, and vaccine manufacturers have expressed disapproval of the order. Dr. Aaron Milstone from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Infectious Diseases warned that conflicting messages could lead to parental confusion and potential delays in vaccination. Merck, a pharmaceutical company, highlighted that there is no scientific evidence supporting the division of the MMR vaccine into three parts, asserting that using individual components may result in missed or delayed immunizations.
Dr. Elizabeth Mack, a pediatric critical care physician, raised concerns about the feasibility of the recommendation, noting the absence of licensed single-antigen measles, mumps, or rubella vaccines in the U.S. She questioned whether parents would be required to make additional visits for vaccinations and if those visits would be reimbursed.
The World Health Organization defended the evidence-based approach for determining childhood immunization schedules, emphasizing the extensive scientific review conducted by WHO, national authorities, and independent expert groups over several decades. Trump, Kennedy, and other White House officials highlighted that the order would significantly reduce the number of injections received by U.S. children compared to the previous schedule, which recommended around 72 injections. Vaccine experts clarified that this figure is exaggerated as it includes combination shots like MMR counted as multiple injections, and makes assumptions about annual flu and COVID-19 doses.
Dr. Andrew Racine, President of the AAP, criticized the administration’s intention to revisit the link between vaccines and autism, stating that numerous well-designed studies have already debunked any such association. Dr. Alycia Halladay, Chief Science Officer at the Autism Science Foundation, emphasized the importance of acknowledging scientific findings despite personal beliefs that may contradict them.