U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order aiming to reduce childhood vaccinations by streamlining the immunization schedule to 11 shots. Trump stated that this approach would provide U.S. children with top-tier protection and align the nation with other countries advocating for fewer vaccinations. The order reflects the objectives of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine activist who has promoted a discredited connection between vaccines and autism.
The executive order also suggests dividing the childhood MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine into three separate shots administered during different medical appointments. Kennedy had previously revised the U.S. immunization schedule in January to eliminate vaccinations for six out of 17 diseases, a decision later halted by a federal court ruling. The current order specifies that the federal government will now only endorse the remaining 11 vaccinations.
While the order proposes updated vaccine recommendations, it clarifies that states, not the federal government, hold the authority to mandate vaccinations for schoolchildren. It advises states with school vaccine requirements to consider adjusting their laws to align with the administration’s preferred vaccination schedule.
Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, a Republican, commended the order for enhancing transparency in vaccine recommendations. However, Democratic governors J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania criticized the order. Pritzker expressed concerns about the rising cases of measles in the country and denounced the spread of misinformation.
The order also directs the Justice Department to challenge state vaccination laws, instructing the attorney general to litigate against state laws that contradict parental authority, religious freedom, disability accommodations, and equal protection. Medical associations, public health experts, and vaccine manufacturers have voiced opposition to the order, highlighting potential confusion for parents and the lack of scientific evidence supporting the proposed changes.
The World Health Organization defended the evidence-based process used to determine childhood immunization schedules, emphasizing over 60 years of research supporting vaccination recommendations. Trump, Kennedy, and White House officials claim that U.S. children would receive significantly fewer injections compared to the previous schedule, although vaccine experts argue that this assertion is exaggerated due to counting combination shots as multiple injections and including annual flu and COVID-19 doses in the calculation.
AAP President Dr. Andrew Racine criticized the administration’s intention to revisit the link between vaccines and autism, noting that numerous well-designed studies have consistently debunked any association. Dr. Alycia Halladay of the Autism Science Foundation emphasized that the issue lies in some individuals rejecting scientific findings that do not align with their beliefs.