USA10 August, 20263 min read
Trump Signs Executive Order Cutting Childhood Vaccinations to 11 and Splitting MMR Into Three Shots
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Trump signed an executive order to reduce the recommended childhood vaccine schedule to 11 shots. The order would break up the MMR vaccine into three separate injections.
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MMR split and fewer shots
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday calling for fewer childhood vaccinations by limiting the inoculation schedule to 11 immunizations, while also recommending that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine be split into three shots taken at separate visits.
Trump said during the White House signing ceremony, "Effective immediately, my administration is recognizing gold-standard childhood vaccine recommendations for only 11 core vaccinations against the most serious and dangerous diseases," and he added that the MMR "hopefully will be split up."
The Reuters report said the order advances a long-standing goal of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has promoted a link between vaccines and autism that scientists have repeatedly debunked.
Reuters also reported that the order recommends splitting MMR into three shots taken at separate visits, while noting that no licensed single-antigen measles, mumps or rubella vaccines were available in the United States as written, according to Dr. Elizabeth Mack, a pediatric critical care physician in Charleston, South Carolina.
Criticism and autism claims
Physicians and public health experts criticized the executive order, with Reuters reporting that Dr. Aaron Milstone of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases said the main outcome would be "confusion for parents," and that conflicting messages would likely lead parents to delay vaccination.
Reuters also quoted Merck saying there is no published scientific evidence showing any benefit to splitting the MMR shot into three, and that using individual components increases injections and can lead to delayed or missed immunizations.
The CIDRAP report said Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. repeated a long-debunked falsehood at the signing that vaccinations are possibly associated with the neurodevelopmental condition, and it quoted Andrew D. Racine, MD, PhD, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, saying, "Delaying or skipping shots is risky, especially as measles continues to spread and children go back to school."
CIDRAP further reported that the executive order makes no mention of autism, while also describing how the order directs the attorney general to take legal action against states with laws that violate religious freedom, disability accommodations, or parental authority.
Legal fight and logistics
The executive order directs the Justice Department to challenge state vaccination laws, escalating a federal fight over school immunization requirements set by states, and it instructs the attorney general to sue over state laws the administration says conflict with parental authority, religious freedom, disability accommodations and equal protection.
Reuters reported that the order also says it reaffirms Kennedy's overhaul despite ongoing litigation, and it said existing coverage under the Vaccines for Children program relied on by many families will continue.
On the logistics side, Reuters quoted Dr. Elizabeth Mack in Charleston, South Carolina, saying, "We don't have a system that supports this," and she questioned whether extra visits would be required and if they would be reimbursed by insurers.
The Guardian reported that the executive order states, "to the maximum extent feasible, all childhood immunizations should be administered at separate medical visits," which it said would put a financial and logistical strain on families and medical providers by creating several additional visits.