President Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 10, 2026, setting new recommendations for childhood vaccination and limiting the recommended vaccines to 11.
The order also calls for splitting the combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and administering the three shots during separate doctor visits.
What Trump said
Signing the order at the White House, Trump said his administration only recognizes recommendations for 11 vaccinations, which he described as targeting the most serious and dangerous diseases. He said the United States recommends more childhood vaccines than other countries, adding that the number is double what some European countries recommend.
Health experts push back
Public health experts said the immunization schedule was built on decades of data showing vaccines can protect against serious, life-threatening diseases. They warned that cutting the recommended vaccines would leave more children vulnerable to preventable illnesses.
