On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order recommending that children in the U.S. get fewer vaccines, spaced out over a longer time. However, little scientific evidence exists to support making these changes.

The Trump administration said this change is meant to give families more choice about when to vaccinate their children. But according to CNN, many doctors believe the president’s plan could lead to more confusion and uncertainty. On Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) defended the science behind current childhood vaccine schedules. Reuters reported that the WHO said vaccine timing is based on careful review of disease risks and how children’s immune systems develop.

For now, as children head back to school, not much will change. Health experts told CNN any shifts to the shots available or the Centers for Disease Control’s recommended schedule could take months or years—if they happen at all. The order also will now likely be challenged in court. At stake is how far Trump’s power can reach in reshaping vaccine policy, particularly when his approach is at odds with established scientific guidance, CNN said.

“As measles cases reach a 35-year high in the U.S. and with cold and flu season quickly approaching, today’s executive order on vaccines is not only disheartening but dangerous,” said Andrew D. Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP, president, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). “Instead of ensuring every family can access life-saving vaccines for measles, influenza, RSV, and more, federal leaders are once again spreading misleading claims.  

“Today’s executive order is not based on ‘gold-standard science.’ There is no new evidence to justify significant changes to childhood immunization guidance. Dozens of studies involving millions of people show there is no link between vaccines and autism, and yet federal leaders continue to promote this outdated, disproven idea to scare families. 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. Delaying or skipping shots is risky, especially as measles continues to spread and children go back to school.

“Vaccine recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics are tailored to the health of children living in the United States and are based on decades of research and systematic tracking of real-world experiences. Pediatricians recommend children receive certain vaccines at specific ages based on when children’s immune systems will respond best and when they are most vulnerable to certain diseases. Sometimes this means children will receive a single shot that protects against multiple diseases, or they may receive multiple vaccines at one visit.

“On-time immunization keeps our kids and our communities healthy and thriving. If parents have questions about vaccines, I encourage them to talk with their child’s pediatrician or clinician.”

Meanwhile, on Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended annual influenza vaccination of all children without medical contraindications starting at 6 months of age. Influenza vaccination is an important strategy for protecting children and the broader community as well as reducing the overall burden of respiratory illnesses when other viruses are co-circulating.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reached a settlement agreement with Konover Residential Corp., resolving alleged violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act. The alleged violations involve the company’s failure to provide required lead-based paint disclosures to tenants for 11 apartment units at the mixed-use Cargill Falls Mill property in Putnam, Connecticut.

Konover Residential Corp., is a subsidiary of the Simon Konover Co. and manages residential and commercial rental properties in several states. At the time of the violations, Konover maintained and leased the residential units at the Cargill Falls Mill property at 58 Pomfret Street in Putnam, Connecticut. The historic mixed-use complex was converted into residential and commercial units around 2017 and is owned by Historic Cargill Falls Mill LLC.

“EPA’s lead-based paint disclosure requirements are essential to protecting the health of New England communities, especially children who are most vulnerable to lead exposure,” said Mark Sanborn, EPA New England regional administrator. “This settlement demonstrates EPA’s commitment to enforcing federal lead disclosure laws, promoting compliance, and ensuring tenants receive the information they need to protect themselves and their families from lead hazards.”

Following resident complaint submissions, EPA conducted a TSCA lead-based paint inspection at Cargill Falls Mill of Konover, the property management company at the time of the inspection. The following alleged Lead Disclosure Rule violations were identified with respect to the leases for 11 units:

• Failure to provide tenants with the required EPA lead hazard information pamphlet.
• Failure to include the required lead warning statement in the lease.
• Failure to disclose known information about lead-based paint or lead hazards to tenants or indicate no knowledge of such information.
• Failure to provide available records or reports about lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards or indicate that no such records are available.

In addition, EPA determined that children were living in the apartments where the alleged violations occurred.

Under the settlement agreement, Konover agreed to pay a penalty of US$359,069 and to operate in compliance with federal lead paint disclosure regulations. To remain in compliance, Konover must:

• Provide lessees with an EPA-approved lead hazard information pamphlet, attach the Lead Warning Statement to every lease agreement, disclose any known lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards (or indicate no such knowledge).
• Provide all available records and reports related to lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards for the target housing with each lease or indicate no such records are available.

Under the federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act and TSCA, the EPA enforces the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule by inspecting records and sites to ensure that sellers, property managers, real estate agents, and other regulated parties comply with federal lead disclosure requirements. For homes built before 1978, required information about known lead-based paint and lead-based hazards must be provided before a buyer or tenant becomes obligated under a contract.