President signs order to separate childhood vaccines into multiple visits

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday that calls for a revision of childhood vaccine schedules. The order proposes splitting the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three individual injections given at separate medical visits and suggests that one-year-olds receive their vaccinations across five appointments. The directive also asks the Department of Health and Human Services to expand vaccine research and advises state education officials to consider updating school-vaccination mandates in line with the new recommendations.

The White House fact sheet accompanying the order notes that separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are not currently available in the United States. Public-health experts warned that extending the interval between shots could increase the risk of children contracting preventable diseases before completing their immunization series.

Although the order outlines federal guidance, authority over school vaccination requirements remains with individual states. The administration had previously directed HHS to review international vaccine policies, a move that led to a proposal to reduce the number of recommended childhood vaccines—a proposal that was later blocked by a court.

During a Cabinet meeting, President Trump asked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about progress on autism research, to which Kennedy replied that an answer would be provided when available. Kennedy reiterated the scientific consensus that no link exists between vaccines and autism and indicated that his department is investigating other environmental factors.

The order arrives as the administration shifts its public messaging toward topics such as nutrition and drug-price reductions ahead of the upcoming election.