Key facts
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order on vaccines that doctors say will cause fear and confusion.
- The order suggests separating the MMR vaccine into individual shots and giving childhood immunizations at separate appointments.
- Doctors state the current MMR vaccine is safe and effective, and separating it offers no scientific or immune response benefit.
- The order revives debunked theories linking vaccines to autism, which scientific studies have consistently disproven.
- The move comes amid rising measles outbreaks and falling immunization rates, with doctors concerned about increased vaccine hesitancy.
Doctors have expressed strong criticism of President Donald Trump's recent executive order on vaccines, warning that it is misguided and likely to increase fear and confusion among parents, potentially endangering children. The order, signed Monday, advocates for separating the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into individual shots and suggests giving all childhood immunizations at separate appointments when possible.
Pediatricians like Dr. Molly O’Shea of Michigan noted that the timing of the order is particularly unfortunate, as children are returning to school and families are completing back-to-school health checklists. She emphasized that questioning the safety or efficacy of vaccines now is ill-conceived, especially with measles outbreaks and declining immunization rates.
Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine researcher at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, stated that the recommendations are not science-based and that casting doubt on the MMR vaccine is irresponsible, particularly given the current measles epidemic. He predicted the order would induce chaos and confusion, leaving people uncertain about vaccination decisions.
Trump's remarks prior to signing the order, where he used the word "lethal" when discussing the current MMR vaccine, were strongly rejected by doctors. They affirmed that the combination vaccine has undergone rigorous safety studies and that the diseases it protects against pose a far greater risk. Dr. O’Shea further explained that giving the MMR vaccines together provides a better immune response and that there is no value in separating them.
The order also directs the health department to develop a plan for offering separate vaccines against these diseases, a move Trump spokesperson Kush Desai suggested would increase vaccine uptake by offering parents more options. However, doctors lamented the revival of debunked theories linking vaccines to autism, a connection that decades of studies have firmly disproven. Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, reiterated that numerous studies have unequivocally shown no link between childhood vaccines and autism.
Doctors also highlighted the confusion the order and Trump's comments could create regarding recommended vaccine schedules. While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends vaccines for 18 diseases, Trump's administration had previously attempted to implement more restrictive guidance, which was blocked by a federal judge. Insurance coverage for recommended vaccines remains largely unaffected, with Medicaid, CHIP, and most private health insurance plans continuing to cover them.