President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday calling for fewer childhood vaccinations and recommending the separation of measles, mumps and rubella shots. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association quickly condemned the order, citing public health concerns.
The order recommends that children receive 11 core immunizations, down from the 18 vaccines currently advised by the AAP. The listed immunizations include diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus, varicella and the three components of the MMR vaccine.
Trump said his administration identifies these as "gold standard childhood vaccine recommendations for only 11 core vaccinations against the most serious and dangerous diseases." He added that the changes mean "not only that you're doing fewer vaccines, or jabs, as they say, but you're doing them in a series of visits to the doctor."
The order serves as guidance only and does not create a federal mandate. State governments retain authority to set vaccine requirements for school attendance, meaning the federal recommendation's impact depends on state-level action.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump reiterated his long-held skepticism about the combined MMR vaccine, suggesting it "could be quite lethal if given at once." He compared the effect to "pouring a bottle of soda into a child's body."
When a reporter asked for evidence supporting the claim of lethality, Trump said, "What I've heard is that there are some people that say it is that way." He has previously linked childhood vaccines to autism, a connection multiple scientific studies have disproven.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the MMR vaccine carries a very small risk of febrile seizures for young children and advises those with health issues—such as severe allergic reactions or weakened immune systems—to consult healthcare providers before receiving the shots.
The CDC also says most people who receive the MMR vaccine do not experience serious problems and that getting the vaccine is much safer than contracting measles, mumps or rubella. The agency says there is no published scientific evidence supporting any benefit in separating the combination MMR vaccine into three individual shots.
Medical experts warn that spacing out individual shots increases the likelihood children will contract diseases in the interim and raises the chance of missed appointments due to the need for multiple visits.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the proposed changes aim to give parents choice, not to prohibit access to childhood vaccines. Kennedy has sought to loosen vaccine regulations since taking office in January 2025. Last week, Kennedy said on CNN he had never questioned the efficacy of the MMR vaccine.
Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, called the order "disheartening but dangerous." He cited a 35-year high in U.S. measles cases and the approaching cold and flu season as reasons for concern.
The American Medical Association also criticized the order, echoing the AAP's position that the recommendations are not based on established science. The medical community maintains that the current vaccine schedule provides the best protection against preventable diseases.
