Trump Moves to Cut Childhood Vaccine Schedule
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order reshaping federal childhood vaccination policy, reducing the number of diseases routinely covered by the recommended schedule and directing health agencies to move away from administering several vaccines during the same visit. The order also calls for the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to be separated into individual shots.
Trump Reduces Childhood Vaccine Schedule
The new policy reduces the core childhood immunisation schedule from vaccines covering 17 diseases to 11, aligning federal recommendations more closely with schedules used in selected developed countries.
Vaccines removed from universal routine recommendations are not necessarily being eliminated. Some will instead be recommended for children considered at higher risk or through individual discussions between parents and healthcare providers.
The administration said the changes are intended to increase parental choice and confidence in childhood vaccination.
Trump Calls for Separate MMR Vaccines
The order also seeks to replace the combined MMR vaccine with separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations administered individually.
Trump has argued that childhood vaccines should be spaced out rather than giving children multiple immunisations during a single medical appointment.
The policy represents a substantial departure from longstanding US vaccination practices, under which combination vaccines have been used to reduce the number of injections and medical visits required.
Medical Groups Oppose Vaccine Changes
The changes have drawn criticism from paediatric and public health organisations, which maintain that existing vaccination schedules are supported by extensive safety and effectiveness data.
Medical experts have also rejected claims linking childhood vaccines with autism, saying large studies have found no causal connection.
States retain significant authority over school vaccination requirements, meaning the federal changes will not automatically determine vaccination mandates across the country.
