Trump signs order to reduce childhood vaccines and break up MMR shots
The revised vaccination schedule recommends immunising children against 11 diseases, six fewer than currently recommended.
US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to alter the American childhood vaccination schedule. The new plan proposes vaccinating children against 11 diseases, six fewer than the current recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Critics argue the order is based on misinformation and could harm children.
The revised schedule suggests separating the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three individual shots, despite scientific consensus that the combined vaccine is safe and effective. The administration also directs the health department to enhance vaccine research. These changes are believed to be motivated by discredited theories about vaccine safety and increased risk of disease if shots are administered separately.
Dr. Kush Desai, a spokesperson for the president, claimed the plan would give parents more options for their children's vaccination schedule. However, public health experts contend the move could cause increased risk of preventable diseases and deter vaccination. Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican chair of the Senate health committee, criticized the order, stating vaccines are safe and do not cause autism.
Despite the controversy, the president's order suggests school vaccine mandates could be reviewed, but it only advises states to consider updating their laws to align with the administration's preferred schedule.
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