Experts Sound the Alarm on Executive Order Targeting Childhood Vaccines

On Aug. 10, President Trump signed an executive order calling for major changes to U.S. childhood vaccine recommendations, despite no new evidence or scientific justification.

The order included direction for separating the combined MMR vaccine into three shots administered at separate visits, relies on comparisons to vaccination practices in other countries, and targets school vaccine requirements – raising significant concerns about the potential impact on vaccination rates and public health.

Leading medical societies, public health organizations and physicians swiftly pushed back, warning that the changes could create access barriers, increase public confusion and undermine evidence-based vaccination practices. Experts have also challenged the administration’s international comparisons, noting that vaccine schedules are tailored to the specific health needs and circumstances of each country.

Below is a round-up of reactions from key stakeholders, with direct links to their full statements.

American Academy of Pediatrics

“Today's executive order will do nothing to support families of children with autism or advance understanding of the condition. The only purpose of this announcement is to sow confusion so that more people doubt the importance of vaccines.”

Find the full statement here.

American Academy of Family Physicians

“The AAFP’s childhood vaccine recommendations reflect the latest medical research, public health guidance and the expertise of family physicians who understand what patients and families are experiencing. Vaccination is an essential tool for preventing serious illness and death.”

Find the full statement here.

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

“Vaccinations play a critical role in preventing certain cancers, promoting public health and protecting individuals with serious health conditions. ACS CAN is deeply concerned with the confusion this executive order could cause, the risk it poses to cancer patients, survivors and their families and the overall negative impact it could have on public health.”

Find the full statement here.            

American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists

“Separating the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into individual vaccines creates unnecessary logistical burdens on families, leading to a potential reduction in vaccination rates and leaving children vulnerable to these serious diseases. At a time when the United States is experiencing a significant rise in measles cases, changes that depart from evidence-based recommendations put children and communities at risk.  

Find the full statement here.                                                     

American College of Physicians

“The ACP says an executive order issued today that would implement significant changes to vaccine production, access, and administration and erode school entry requirements, is problematic and deeply concerning. This executive order is part of a troubling pattern by the administration to attempt to unilaterally change vaccine guidance, particularly for children, rather than relying on the transparent, scientific review that has guided the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule for decades.”

Find the full statement here.

American College of Preventative Medicine

“The ACPM is concerned the recently issued Executive Order recommending changes to the U.S. childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule will further decrease childhood vaccination rates and strain American families working to keep their children safe from vaccine-preventable diseases.”

Find the full statement here

American Families for Vaccines

“Claims that children receive too many vaccines, that combination vaccines are suspect, and that separating vaccines into additional shots and medical visits will make them safer have circulated for years in anti-vaccine circles. What is new—and deeply dangerous—is seeing those claims used to justify changes to national vaccine policy.”

Find the full statement here.

American Medical Association

“Vaccines are among the most thoroughly studied, effective tools we have to protect children from serious vaccine-preventable diseases. Decisions about how and when vaccines are used should be driven by rigorous scientific evidence, patient safety, and independent medical and public health expertise. Altering a proven vaccination schedule without credible evidence risks weakening public confidence and putting children’s health at risk.”

Find the full statement here.

America’s Physician Group

“As APG has repeatedly said, prevention is key to value-based care, and approved and recommended vaccines are key to prevention. Diminishing the important prevention tool of vaccines imperils the delivery of value-based care – health care that is accountable for costs and quality – as well as individuals’ health and wellbeing. The nation’s children and the U.S. health care system deserve far better.”

Find the full statement here.

Autism Science Foundation Co-Founder and President Alison Singer

“We oppose using the autism crisis to advance hypotheses that have already been tested and repeatedly failed to demonstrate a causal connection. The fact that autism prevalence has increased does not make every factor that has also increased a cause of autism.’”

Find the full statement here.

Dr. Jerome Adams, former U.S. Surgeon General

“The new EO on vaccines will make life harder & more expensive for parents who want to vaccinate their kids… MORE trips, MORE time off work, MORE admin fees, MORE hassle, MORE pain for America’s children - and higher odds kids miss doses.”

Find the full statement here.

Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC Director

“A new executive order injects disproven claims into the process by which doctors and nurses advise parents and, if followed, will result in more illness, hospitalizations, and deaths of American children.”

Find the full statement here.

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

“The NAPNAP strongly opposes President Trump’s executive order calling for changes to the childhood vaccine schedule without evidence to support the policy shift. … The administration’s arbitrary recommendations to separate the highly effective measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into individual vaccines and administer immunizations separately at multiple visits are not supported by established scientific evidence and could leave children vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases while waiting to complete the recommended immunizations and doses.”

Find the full statement here.

Infectious Disease Society of America

“The American people deserve childhood vaccine recommendations that are made by qualified experts, through an established, transparent process and based on the best available scientific evidence. Today’s executive order undermines all three of these fundamental standards.”

Find the full statement here.

Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA)

“Vaccines are overwhelmingly safe. Vaccines are effective. Vaccines DO NOT cause autism. Breaking up vaccines will mean children have to get more shots to get the same protection, not fewer shots. It will increase hesitancy and make children less safe.”

Find the full statement here.