Trump signs order calling for spacing out childhood vaccines, against medical groups’ guidance

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that calls for changes to the childhood vaccination schedule. The order recommends reducing the number of childhood vaccines from 18, as suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics, to 11 core vaccinations. According to KahawaTungu and People Daily Kenya, these vaccinations are for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus, and varicella or chicken pox.

The order also recommends spacing out the vaccinations into separate medical visits whenever feasible. Additionally, it suggests dividing the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate, single-disease shots, as reported by Euronews and ABC News AU. This change is despite scientific consensus that the combined MMR shot is safe and effective.

Donald Trump called the announcement a "major victory for parents' rights, religious and constitutional rights, and for the gold standard science," as reported by The Hindu - Sci-Tech. The president has long expressed concerns about the safety of MMR vaccines, suggesting a possible link to autism, although multiple studies have found no such connection, according to KahawaTungu and People Daily Kenya. The order serves as guidance, not a mandate, as shots required for school attendance are set at the state level.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech, ABC News AU, Euronews, KahawaTungu, People Daily Kenya — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.