President Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 10, 2026, directing the federal government to revise childhood vaccine recommendations. The order, titled 'Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations,' aims to reduce the number of diseases for which vaccines are routinely recommended from 18 to 11, including measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and whooping cough. It also proposes spacing out immunizations and administering the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine as three separate shots.
The order specifies that vaccines for certain diseases, such as hepatitis A and B, will be recommended only for higher-risk groups or through shared decision-making between parents and doctors. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines will also fall under this shared decision-making category. Additionally, the order directs federal agencies to work on making separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines available in the United States and encourages administering childhood immunizations at separate medical visits.
During the signing ceremony, Trump stated that the changes would allow parents greater control over their children's vaccination schedules. He suggested that spacing out vaccines could impact autism diagnoses, a claim that lacks scientific backing, as numerous studies have found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. The executive order also instructs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to propose changes to the childhood vaccine schedule within 90 days and to conduct further research into vaccine safety and alternative ingredients.
The practical implications of the order are uncertain, as states typically determine vaccine requirements for public school attendance, and individual measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines are not currently available in the U.S. Critics, including medical organizations and some Republican lawmakers, have expressed concerns about the order, arguing that vaccines are safe and effective. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) stated that the executive order is misguided and that separating vaccines could lead to more shots being required for the same level of protection.