U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order aimed at reducing childhood vaccinations by streamlining the immunization schedule to include only 11 shots. Trump believes this adjustment will provide American children with top-tier protection and bring the U.S. in line with other countries that recommend fewer vaccinations.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal critic of vaccines, has long advocated for this change and pushed for splitting the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine into three separate doses administered during distinct medical visits.
Earlier this year, Kennedy had attempted to trim the U.S. vaccination schedule by eliminating shots for six out of 17 diseases. However, this move was legally challenged. The recent executive order now limits federal support to the remaining 11 vaccines.
While the order suggests revised vaccine guidelines, it clarifies that states hold the authority to enforce vaccination requirements for schoolchildren. The directive advises states with existing vaccine mandates to consider aligning their regulations with the federal government’s recommended schedule.
Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, a Republican, commended the order for enhancing the clarity and transparency of vaccine recommendations. On the other hand, Democratic Governors J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania voiced their criticism, expressing concerns about the potential spread of misinformation and the rise of measles cases.
The order also tasks the Justice Department with challenging state vaccination laws that are deemed to infringe on parental rights, religious freedoms, disability accommodations, and equal protection. This includes regulations related to 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 highlighted the potential for confusion among parents due to conflicting messages, which may result in delayed vaccinations.
Merck, a pharmaceutical company, emphasized that there is no scientific evidence supporting the benefit of splitting the MMR vaccine into multiple doses. Additionally, the lack of licensed single-antigen vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella in the U.S. raises concerns about the feasibility of the recommendation.
Critics of the order, including Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician himself, argue that the president lacks the necessary expertise to dictate changes in vaccination protocols. Despite his opposition, Cassidy supported the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in 2025, underscoring the complexities of vaccine-related debates within the political sphere.
The World Health Organization has defended the evidence-based approach used to formulate immunization schedules, emphasizing the extensive research conducted over several decades. The organization stressed the importance of adhering to scientific evidence when determining vaccination guidelines.
In response to claims that the new order would significantly reduce the number of vaccine injections for children, experts have clarified that the figure is inflated due to counting combination shots individually. They also noted that ongoing vaccinations, such as annual flu and COVID-19 doses, were factored into the previous count.
Dr. Andrew Racine, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, criticized the administration’s intention to revisit the link between vaccines and autism, highlighting numerous studies that have consistently refuted any such association. Dr. Alycia Halladay from the Autism Science Foundation echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging scientific evidence in shaping public health policies.
