Trump Signs Executive Order Cutting Childhood Vaccinations
Key Points
- President Trump signed an executive order on August 11, 2026, calling for fewer childhood vaccinations and more spacing between doses.
- The order seeks to separate the MMR vaccine into three single-disease shots, which are not currently licensed in the US.
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had previously sought in January to remove vaccines against 6 of 17 diseases from the childhood schedule before a federal judge blocked those changes.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had already sought in January to remove vaccines against 6 of 17 diseases from the childhood schedule. A federal judge blocked those changes while legal proceedings continue. Monday's order reaffirms much of that overhaul.
Public health experts warn that spreading shots across more appointments can leave children vulnerable to preventable diseases for longer and increase the risk that later doses are delayed or missed. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, estimated that developing and approving separate vaccines in the US could take more than a decade. "We're advising that you continue to give children a vaccine that has decades of safety data," said Aaron M. Milstone, a member of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases. Vaccine maker Merck said there was no published scientific evidence showing any benefit from splitting the MMR vaccine.
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Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician and chairman of the Senate health committee, condemned the move. "I'm a doctor. This executive order is wrong. The president does not have the expertise to make these changes," Cassidy said, adding that splitting combination vaccines "will mean children have to get more shots to get the same protection, not fewer shots." New York City Health Commissioner Alister Martin said the order was based "in politics and conspiracy theories."
Trump repeatedly suggested during the signing that the number or timing of childhood vaccines could be linked to rising rates of autism spectrum disorder. Scientific consensus and decades of studies have found no link between vaccination and autism. Kennedy has also repeatedly promoted the disproven connection, having founded an anti-vaccine nonprofit before joining the administration.
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This executive order marks the second major attempt by the Trump administration to overhaul childhood vaccination policy in 2026, following Kennedy's January proposal that was blocked by federal court. The 11-vaccine core schedule represents a reduction from current CDC recommendations, which recommend immunizations against more diseases. State authorities control most school vaccine mandates, meaning the federal government's authority to enforce these changes remains constrained.
What Happens Next
The executive order will likely face legal challenges similar to those that blocked Kennedy's January proposal. Individual states will determine whether to adopt the recommendations, with some states potentially maintaining current vaccine schedules. Medical organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics will continue advocating for the existing vaccination schedule. Federal courts will determine the order's enforceability while litigation proceeds.
Sources: DW and other international news outlets.
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