Key facts
- President Donald Trump issued an executive order to separate childhood vaccines into individual shots.
- The order applies to vaccines such as MMR.
- Public health experts cite significant logistical and financial challenges.
- Drugmakers may need to revive decades-old vaccines and build new manufacturing plants.
- Parents could face more frequent and costly doctor visits.
- The order does not change official CDC recommendations.
- Experts warn of potential increased illness among children.
- Experts caution the order could undermine trust in vaccines.
- The executive order is creating confusion and doubt regarding vaccine schedules.
President Donald Trump's executive order mandating the separation of childhood vaccines, such as the MMR vaccine, into individual shots presents substantial logistical and financial obstacles, public health experts state. This directive requires drug manufacturers to potentially revive decades-old vaccine formulations and establish new manufacturing plants, a process that could be both time-consuming and expensive. Furthermore, parents may encounter increased frequency and cost associated with doctor visits to administer these individual vaccines.