Trump signs executive order to overhaul pediatric vaccine recommendations

President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order overhauling recommended childhood vaccines, reducing routine recommendations from about 17–18 diseases to 11 core diseases.

The order backs a so‑called "Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations" that aligns the U.S. schedule more closely with countries such as Denmark.

It recommends separating the combined MMR (measles‑mumps‑rubella) vaccine into three individual shots and spacing vaccines across more visits.

Several previously routine vaccines—including flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, some meningococcal disease, RSV, and COVID‑19—are now recommended only for certain high‑risk groups or through shared clinical decision‑making with doctors.

The directive is federal guidance, not a mandate; states still set school‑entry vaccine requirements, and access to vaccines is not immediately changed.

The order has drawn strong criticism from many public‑health experts and doctors, who warn it could undermine herd immunity and complicate vaccination decisions for families.