US President Donald Trump has issued a new executive order directing federal guidance to reduce the number of recommended childhood immunizations and split up the combination measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The order seeks to drop the list of universally targeted diseases from 18 to 11, shifting shots for conditions like COVID-19, the flu, and hepatitis into shared decision-making models between parents and doctors. While state governments, not the federal administration, determine actual school entry requirements, the order sets official administration guidance and instructs the Justice Department to review state compliance regarding parental and religious exemptions.

Vaccines vs Autism

During the announcement, President Trump repeatedly suggested a connection between immunizations and rising autism diagnoses, a premise that has been rejected by major medical organizations and extensive scientific research.

"Decades ago, children received only a small fraction of the vaccines required today. In those times, people were much healthier and of course the high rates of autism now observed did not exist."

Trump also advocated for separating the three-in-one MMR shot into three distinct visits, claiming the combined dose could be "quite lethal" and compared it to pouring a bottle of soda into a child's body. When asked by reporters for proof regarding the claim, he replied:

"What I've heard is that there are some people that say it is that way."

When addressing that splitting the vaccine would result in the need for additional appointments, Trump said:

"It’s inconvenient, it’s five stops, but it’s something that I think will have a huge impact on autism."

He added:

"In many cases, we’re requiring 72 jabs for our beautiful, healthy, lovely, delicate, little children," suggesting that "large amounts, like vats, of vaccine are currently pumped into your child’s body."

Public health organizations and lawmakers have warned that spreading immunizations over more appointments increases costs and leads to missed doses.

"The President does not have the expertise to make these changes. Parents should listen to their child’s pediatrician about vaccines rather than listening to an inaccurate executive order. This is so wrong," wrote Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician who chairs the Senate Health Committee.

Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, described the order as "dangerous" and not anchored in "gold-standard science," noting:

"Delaying or skipping shots is risky, especially as measles continues to spread and children go back to school."

"The more visits you have to do, the more time you have to take off from work, more time you have to take children out of school if they happen to be school age."

The order comes as the US experiences its highest number of measles cases in decades following declines in childhood vaccination rates. Legal analysts suggest the directive will likely face immediate court challenges similar to prior policy changes currently put on hold by federal judges.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that there are currently no separate single-disease vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella approved by the FDA or available in the US, nor is there evidence showing that there are any benefits that would come from dividing them.

The New List of Universally Recommended Vaccines

The administration's proposal divides vaccines into distinct categories while directing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to identify ways to make single-dose options available within 90 days.

The executive order also instructs officials to explore alternatives to tiny amounts of aluminum salts used as adjuvants in certain shots, despite public health agencies confirming their long-term safety profile.