Donald Trump signed an executive order to reduce the number of recommended vaccines for young children, despite facing opposition from multiple parties.
CNN reported on Monday, 10 Aug 2026 GMT+7, that U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to change federal guidelines on childhood vaccines, proposing to reduce the total number of recommended vaccinations for young children and to divide the childhood vaccination schedule into three categories.
Additionally, the order recommends separating the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three single doses, contradicting the widely accepted scientific consensus but aligning with Trump's insistence over recent months that this widely used vaccine should be altered.
“We are reducing the number,” Trump said from the Oval Office at the White House. “Not just reducing the number of vaccines or shots, as you say, but you will receive them over multiple doctor visits.”
Under the draft order, the new government policy recommends all children receive vaccines against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), pneumococcal disease, HPV, and chickenpox.
Meanwhile, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for RSV and vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningitis B, meningitis ACWY, and dengue fever are now recommended only for high-risk populations, rather than all children as previously advised.
Several other vaccines, such as those for hepatitis viruses, will depend on joint decisions or consultations with the child's doctor. This group includes vaccines for rotavirus, meningitis, influenza, and COVID-19.
Trump’s announcement closely resembles an earlier effort by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in January to reduce recommended childhood vaccines, which was blocked by lawsuits from medical groups and ruled in favor of those medical groups by a judge.
In recent months, Trump has pressured HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take further action on childhood vaccine schedules, including accelerating efforts to investigate links between vaccines and autism.
Over several decades, extensive scientific research on vaccines has found no evidence linking vaccines to causing autism.
This executive order signing occurred despite ongoing concerns from Trump’s political advisers that promoting this controversial and unpopular vaccine policy could alienate voters ahead of the November midterm elections.
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:cnn