Trump order urges splitting children’s MMR vaccine schedule
Crhk · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing changes to childhood vaccine recommendations, including replacing the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine with three separate shots given at different appointments . The order also asks the Department of Health to improve vaccine research and limits the priority childhood schedule to 11 vaccines rather than the broader list backed by the American Academy of Pediatrics . Trump again questioned MMR safety and linked vaccine concerns to rising autism cases, although studies and public health authorities have found no causal connection and no proven benefit from splitting the vaccine . Public health experts cited in the reports warned that separating the doses could leave children exposed to infection before later clinic visits .
Key Points
- The executive order proposes splitting the current MMR combination vaccine into three injections administered at different medical visits for children .
- In the United States, children currently receive two MMR doses, first at 12 to 15 months and again at ages 4 to 6 .
- Trump said many children suffer adverse reactions after MMR vaccination and suggested giving the combined shot at once could be fatal .
- The order says children should prioritize 11 vaccines, including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, pneumococcal and chickenpox shots .
- It no longer recommends hepatitis B, Covid-19 and influenza vaccines for children, and suggests states consider updating school vaccination laws .
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the story matters because it concerns a major change proposed in the United States on routine childhood immunisation, an area closely watched by parents and health professionals worldwide . The reports also underline that expert bodies and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say there is no scientific evidence that splitting MMR into three separate injections provides any benefit, which is central to how vaccine safety claims are assessed .