The Trump administration has announced an executive order that proposes changes to childhood vaccinations, specifically splitting the MMR vaccine into three separate shots to be administered at different medical visits. This information was reported based on language obtained by Axios. White House press secretary Karoline Levitt indicated that Trump would sign the executive order later today.
The executive order specifies that the combined MMR vaccine should be given as three individual shots once available domestically, and it encourages administering all childhood immunizations at separate medical visits whenever feasible. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine advisers had previously recommended this approach, although the White House had urged Kennedy to reconsider such policies earlier this year. Recently, Trump has expressed interest in the progress of childhood vaccine policy.
There is currently no evidence suggesting that the previous childhood vaccine schedule poses health risks to children, including any increased risk of autism. Legal actions have halted attempts by the administration to reduce the federal list of recommended childhood vaccines and limit access to certain shots. Proponents of vaccines argue that splitting the MMR vaccine would necessitate more doctor visits, potentially leading to missed appointments and skipped immunizations.