Technology and Science · 11 August, 2026 · 2 min read
Trump Orders States To Cut Childhood Vaccines From 18 To 11 And Split MMR Shots
Trump signed an executive order reviewing the childhood vaccination schedule and proposing separate MMR doses. The order seeks reducing universally recommended vaccines from 18 to 11.
Trump claims MMR separated shots are 'lethal' and links to autism.
6 of 8 outlets skipped it: working group would explore manufacturing separate MMR vaccines.
15outlets compared
Same story, two versions
tap a side to read it in full
Saudi Gazette repeats Trump’s “lethal” framing; NY Daily News fact-checks with “That’s false”.
Order cuts to 11
President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at getting states to revise childhood vaccine recommendations, including reducing the number of universally recommended vaccines for children from 18 to 11.
“reduce the list of diseases that all children should be vaccinated against from 18 to 11”
The order also recommends separating the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three different single-disease shots and administering childhood immunizations at separate appointments whenever possible.
NBC News said the order reaffirms the overhaul Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced this year, which has been blocked in court, and that the plan is due within 90 days.
Saudi Gazette reported Trump said his administration is "recognising gold standard childhood vaccine recommendations for only 11 core vaccinations" and that "We're reducing them" as he described the change as a series of visits rather than fewer doses in one appointment.S
MMR split and disputed claims
Trump argued that the MMR vaccine could be "quite lethal" if given at once, comparing it to pouring a bottle of soda into a child's body.
The Saudi Gazette reported Trump said: "What I've heard is that there are some people that say it is that way," when asked for evidence of the "lethal" claim.S
NBC News said the CDC says there is no published evidence showing any benefit in separating the combined MMR vaccine into three individual shots, and that no such individual vaccines are Food and Drug Administration-approved or available.
In the same coverage, the New York Daily News fact check said Trump claimed, "we were requiring 72 jabs" and that the administration's guidance would drop the total number of injections to about 23 if children receive only the recommended-for-all vaccinations on the new schedule.N
Criticism, access, and next steps
Medical groups and pediatric leaders criticized the order, with NBC News quoting Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, warning that spreading vaccines out over more visits could make it more difficult for parents to vaccinate their children.
“"evaluating our next steps."”
NBC News also reported that the academy’s lawsuit challenging Kennedy’s vaccine recommendation changes is what led a judge to block the overhaul, and that AAP is "evaluating our next steps."
The order is advisory rather than a mandate because shots required for school attendance are set at the state level, NBC News said, while the Saudi Gazette described it as guidance rather than a mandate.S
NBC News said Merck stated its combined MMR vaccine is "supported by decades of clinical and real-world evidence" and that separating the shots may result in delayed or missed immunizations, as the order tasks Kennedy with coming up with options to make separate shots available within 90 days.