On Monday, August 10th, 2026, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order urging a rethink of school vaccine mandates and advocating for the separation of the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three individual shots. This move comes despite scientific evidence supporting the safety of the combined vaccine and during the country's worst measles outbreak in decades.

The executive order directs the US Health and Human Services department to form a task force to work with the private sector and other countries to offer the MMR vaccine as individual vaccines, while ensuring continued availability of combination vaccines and those recommended for shared clinical decision-making. However, the federal government does not have direct control over vaccine requirements for school enrollment, which remain under state authority, making the order more of a suggestion than a mandate.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for founding an anti-vaccine nonprofit and promoting a disproven link between immunization and autism, has prioritized curbing vaccines. During the Oval Office signing, Trump made unsupported statements, including that "Together, there could be a possibility they are quite lethal."

The initiative has drawn criticism from medical professionals and experts. Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician whose vote confirmed Kennedy's appointment as health chief, stated on X that the president's move would "increase hesitancy and make children less safe." Jeffrey Singer of the Cato Institute warned that the proposed changes "illustrate the risks of allowing government recommendations to occupy a privileged position in medical decision-making."

Despite the controversy, officials continue to advise the use of the MMR vaccine, citing decades of safety data.

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