{
  "id": 507732,
  "title": "Trump signs order reducing recommended childhood vaccines",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/trump-signs-order-reducing-recommended-childhood-vaccines",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-10T21:13:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/us/2026/0810/1587340-trump-vaccines/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday that recommends fewer childhood vaccinations, limiting the number of immunizations to 11. The order also proposes splitting the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine into three separate shots, administered at different medical visits. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had previously reduced the US immunization schedule in January by eliminating shots against six out of 17 diseases, a move thwarted by a federal court ruling.\n\nThe order stipulates that the federal government will now only back the remaining 11 shots recommended for children. However, the federal government does not have direct control over many aspects covered by the new order. States and territories have the authority to require vaccinations for students to attend school, making Trump's move more of a suggestion than a binding order.\n\nBoth the American Academy of Pediatrics and vaccine maker Merck have criticized the order. Public health experts argue that the immunization schedule is based on decades of evidence demonstrating that these vaccines can protect against serious illness and death. They also maintain that the number of shots reflects the specific health needs of Americans, and reducing the recommended vaccines would leave more children vulnerable to preventable diseases.\n\nDuring the White House signing ceremony, Trump stated, \"Effective immediately, my administration is recognizing gold standard childhood vaccine recommendations for only 11 core vaccinations against the most serious and dangerous diseases, along with the MMR, which hopefully will be split up.\" The US government abandoned its longstanding guidance in January that all children receive vaccines against flu and three other diseases, an action that advances one of Kennedy's long-standing goals.\n\nLongtime vaccine critic Kennedy, who previously led efforts to drop universal recommendations for hepatitis B shots for children and cut the list of recommended vaccines, has previously cited links to autism that scientists have repeatedly debunked. The executive order reaffirms Kennedy's overhaul, despite the ongoing litigation.\n\nAs children across the country prepare to return to school, and the US battles its worst measles outbreak in 35 years, the president's latest order arrives at a critical time. Polls indicate that most Americans still support vaccination, and in recent months, both Kennedy and Trump have backed off anti-vaccination rhetoric, which could have negative implications in November's midterm elections.",
  "summary": "US President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for fewer childhood vaccinations by limiting the inoculation schedule to 11 immunisations.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian US",
        "title": "Trump signs order attempting to override CDC vaccine schedule and break up MMR shots",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/trump-signs-order-attempting-to-override-cdc-vaccine-schedule-and",
        "published": "2026-08-10T19:06:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Trump signs executive order to change childhood vaccine schedule",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/trump-signs-executive-order-to-change-childhood-vaccine-schedule",
        "published": "2026-08-10T19:25:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Newsweek",
        "title": "What Is the MMR Vaccine? Trump Signs Order to Change Childhood Shot",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/what-is-the-mmr-vaccine-trump-signs-order-to-change-childhood-shot",
        "published": "2026-08-10T20:25:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Fierce Healthcare",
        "title": "Trump signs executive order to overhaul pediatric vaccine recommendations",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/trump-signs-executive-order-to-overhaul-pediatric-vaccine",
        "published": "2026-08-10T20:58:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Trump order pushes for overhaul of childhood vaccine schedule",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/trump-order-pushes-for-overhaul-of-childhood-vaccine-schedule",
        "published": "2026-08-10T21:35:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ars Technica Health",
        "title": "Trump signs bonkers order that cuts vaccines, promotes ones that don't exist",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/trump-signs-bonkers-order-that-cuts-vaccines-promotes-ones-that-dont",
        "published": "2026-08-10T21:42:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Trump pushes rethink of school vaccine mandates and MMR shots",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/trump-pushes-rethink-of-school-vaccine-mandates-and-mmr-shots",
        "published": "2026-08-10T22:15:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "‘We’re reducing them’: Trump’s sweeping new US childhood vaccine order",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/were-reducing-them-trumps-sweeping-new-us-childhood-vaccine-order",
        "published": "2026-08-10T22:57:20.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}