On Monday, August 10th, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations,” which advises pediatricians to split the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine across three separate visits and categorizes vaccines into those recommended for all children, those for high-risk children, and those requiring physician consultation.

Under the order, all children should receive separate vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, pneumococcal disease, HPV, and varicella (chickenpox). Vaccines such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) monoclonal antibodies, hepatitis A and B, meningococcal B and ACWY, and dengue are recommended only for high-risk children.

President Trump stated in the Oval Office that these recommendations represent “gold standard vaccine recommendations” and asserted there is no new evidence to justify significant changes to childhood immunization guidance. He emphasized that numerous studies involving millions of people show no link between vaccines and autism, criticizing federal leaders for promoting what he called an outdated and disproven idea.

However, the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly criticized the executive order. Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the Academy, called the order “disheartening but dangerous,” especially as measles cases reach a 35-year high in the U.S. and cold and flu season approaches. He accused federal leaders of spreading misleading claims instead of ensuring access to life-saving vaccines for measles, influenza, RSV, and others.

Additionally, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a medical doctor, condemned the executive order as “wrong” and stated that President Trump “does not have the expertise to make these changes.”

Sources