Trump signs executive order to overhaul pediatric vaccine recommendations

President Donald Trump on Monday signed an Executive Order recognizing revised "Gold Standard" childhood vaccine recommendations for U.S. children, reducing routine shots from 18 to 11 core diseases and separating the combined MMR vaccine into three single‑disease shots delivered at separate visits.

The order reclassifies many vaccines – including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, influenza, rotavirus and COVID‑19 – into categories for high‑risk groups or shared clinical decision‑making with parents and providers, rather than recommending them for all children.

The new guidance urges states to align school requirement laws with the federal recommendations and directs federal agencies to study safety and schedule changes, while public health agencies and pediatric groups warn that the plan contradicts established science and could lower immunization rates.