U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Monday advocating for a reduction in childhood vaccinations by streamlining the vaccination schedule to 11 immunizations. Trump emphasized that this approach would provide U.S. children with top-notch protection and bring the country in line with other nations that recommend fewer vaccines.
The executive order reflects the ongoing objective of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an advocate against vaccines who has espoused a disproven connection between vaccines and autism. The order proposes dividing the childhood MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine into three separate shots and administering them during different medical appointments.
Earlier, Kennedy had trimmed the U.S. immunization schedule in January by eliminating vaccinations for six out of 17 diseases, a decision that was blocked by a federal court ruling. The current order stipulates that the federal government will only endorse the remaining 11 vaccinations.
While the executive order suggests revised vaccine recommendations, it’s important to note that states, not the federal government, hold the power to mandate vaccinations for schoolchildren. The order suggests that states with school vaccine requirements contemplate updating their laws to align with the administration’s preferred schedule.
Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, a Republican, commended the order for enhancing clarity and transparency in vaccine recommendations. Conversely, Democratic governors J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania criticized the order, with Pritzker voicing concerns about the spread of misinformation regarding measles.
The order tasks the Justice Department with contesting state vaccination laws, directing the attorney general to file lawsuits against state regulations that the administration deems to infringe upon parental rights, religious freedoms, disability accommodations, and equal protection. This includes regulations related to religious and medical exemptions from vaccination mandates.
Medical groups, public health professionals, and vaccine manufacturers have also expressed disapproval of the order. Dr. Aaron Milstone from the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases cautioned that conflicting messages could lead parents to delay vaccinations, causing confusion.
Merck highlighted that there is no scientific evidence supporting the benefit of splitting the MMR shot into three parts. Using individual components may result in more injections and potential delays in immunizations. Dr. Elizabeth Mack, a pediatric critical care physician, pointed out the unavailability of licensed single-antigen measles, mumps, or rubella vaccines in the U.S., making the recommendation impractical.
Pharmaceutical lobby group PhRMA’s chief medical officer, Mike Ybarra, emphasized the need for any schedule changes to be backed by rigorous research. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician and chair of the Senate health committee, criticized the order, stating that the president lacks the expertise to make such healthcare decisions.
The World Health Organization defended the evidence-based process used to establish childhood immunization schedules, underscoring the extensive research conducted by WHO, national authorities, and independent expert groups over several decades. Trump, Kennedy, and White House officials assert that under the new order, U.S. children would receive significantly fewer vaccinations compared to the previous schedule’s recommendation of 72 injections.
Experts in vaccines refute this claim, noting that the 72-injection figure includes combined shots like MMR counted as multiple injections, despite being administered in a single dose, along with presumptions of yearly flu and COVID-19 doses. Dr. Andrew Racine, President of the AAP, criticized plans to revisit the link between vaccines and autism, emphasizing that numerous well-conducted studies have consistently found no such association.
