President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at changing the recommended childhood vaccination schedule, including reducing the number of diseases for which routine vaccination is advised and separating the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot into individual vaccines. Reports describe the order as seeking to reduce the list of diseases covered by the standard schedule from 18 to 11.
The order has prompted criticism from doctors and medical organizations, including the American Medical Association. They have pushed back against changes to the established schedule, arguing that vaccination recommendations should be based on medical evidence and public-health guidance.
The move has also led to fact-checking of claims made by Trump about childhood vaccines and the current schedule. Questions have focused on the evidence behind reducing the number of routinely recommended vaccines and splitting the MMR shot, as well as the potential effects on vaccination rates and disease prevention.
Details about how the order will be implemented, including any changes to federal recommendations or health-policy guidance, are expected to depend on actions by relevant agencies. The debate places the administration’s proposed changes against the recommendations of medical professionals who support the existing combined vaccine and schedule.
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