Trump order calls for fewer childhood vaccines

Healthcare Trump order calls for fewer childhood vaccines Comments: by Nathaniel Weixel - 08/10/26 4:11 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Nathaniel Weixel - 08/10/26 4:11 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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An executive order signed by President Trump Monday would upend the childhood vaccine schedule by recommending splitting up the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot across three separate visits.

The order builds on other efforts by Trump and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reshape and whittle down the number of childhood vaccines — shoving controversial vaccination policy back into the mainstream just a few months ahead of the midterm elections.

With a heavy emphasis on autism, the president also directed the HHS to improve vaccine safety research. Trump suggested multiple times that rising rates of childhood shots have led to an increase in autism diagnoses.

“Effective immediately, my administration is recognizing gold standard childhood vaccine recommendations for only 11 core vaccinations against the most serious and dangerous diseases, along with the MMR, which hopefully will be split up,” Trump said in the Oval Office.

“Parents can still choose to give their children all of the vaccinations if they wish. It’s up to the parents,” the president continued. “We’re making recommendations that are strong, but it’s up to the parents if they wish … However, this updated recommendation finally aligns the United States with other advanced and developed nations around the world. More importantly, it aligns us with common sense and knowledge.”

Medical experts have decried the idea and said splitting up the MMR vaccine could leave children vulnerable to infectious diseases for longer. Separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines for children are not currently available in the U.S.

Trump’s order largely mimics an attempt to limit the number of childhood vaccines made by the HHS in January, which was blocked by a judge in March.

States set their own vaccination requirements, and many have already said they have lost faith in the Trump administration and are no longer following recommendations from the federal government.

Trump acknowledged it may be hard for some parents to take a child to the doctor multiple times, but he insisted it would be worth it.

“It’s inconvenient, it’s five stops, but it’s something that I think will have a huge impact on autism,” he told reporters after signing the order.

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