U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order aiming to reduce the number of childhood vaccinations by streamlining the inoculation schedule to include only 11 immunizations. Trump claimed that this adjustment would provide U.S. children with top-tier protection and bring the country in line with other nations that advocate for fewer vaccination shots. The directive supports the efforts of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine advocate who has pushed for a connection between vaccines and autism, a link that has been repeatedly discredited by scientists.
As part of the order, the childhood MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is suggested to be administered in three separate shots during different medical visits. This move follows Kennedy’s previous decision in January to trim the U.S. immunization schedule by eliminating shots for six out of the 17 diseases, a decision that was later halted by a federal court ruling. The new executive order specifies that the federal government will now endorse only the remaining 11 vaccinations.
While the order proposes revised vaccine guidelines, it is important to note that states, not the federal government, hold the authority to mandate vaccinations for schoolchildren. The order recommends that states with school vaccine requirements consider revising their laws to align with the administration’s preferred schedule, as outlined in a White House fact sheet.
Republican Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt commended the order for enhancing clarity and transparency in vaccine recommendations. However, Democratic governors J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania criticized the directive, with Pritzker expressing concerns over rising measles cases in the country and condemning the spread of misleading information.
The executive order also tasks the Justice Department with challenging state vaccination laws, directing the attorney general to litigate against state regulations that the administration deems to infringe upon parental authority, religious freedom, disability accommodations, and equal protection, including provisions related to religious and medical exemptions from immunization mandates.
Numerous medical associations, public health experts, and vaccine manufacturers have voiced opposition to the order. Dr. Aaron Milstone from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Infectious Diseases warned that conflicting messages resulting from the directive could lead to parental confusion and potential delays in vaccination.
Pharmaceutical company Merck highlighted that there is no scientific evidence supporting the benefits of splitting the MMR combination shot into three separate doses, emphasizing that using individual components could lead to more injections and possible delays or missed immunizations. Dr. Elizabeth Mack, a pediatric critical care physician, raised concerns about the feasibility of the recommendation due to the unavailability of licensed single-antigen measles, mumps, or rubella vaccines in the U.S.
Critics of the order, including Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician who chairs the Senate health committee, condemned the decision, emphasizing that the president lacks the expertise to make such changes. Despite his opposition, Cassidy supported the confirmation of Kennedy in 2025, raising questions about vaccine skepticism.
In response to the criticisms, the World Health Organization defended the evidence-based process used to establish childhood immunization schedules, emphasizing the extensive research conducted over more than 60 years by various health authorities and expert groups. The WHO stressed the importance of utilizing scientific evidence to guide vaccination recommendations globally.
Trump, Kennedy, and other White House officials have asserted that the order would reduce the number of injections received by U.S. children significantly compared to the previous schedule, which included 72 recommended shots. However, vaccine experts argue that this figure is misleading as it accounts for combination shots like MMR as multiple injections, despite being administered in a single shot, and assumes the inclusion of annual flu and COVID-19 doses.
Medical professionals have reiterated that extensive research has already debunked any link between vaccines and autism, emphasizing the need to rely on scientific evidence in shaping vaccination policies. Dr. Andrew Racine, President of the AAP, criticized the administration’s intent to revisit the vaccine-autism association, highlighting the conclusive findings of numerous well-designed studies that have consistently refuted any such connection.