What Trump’s Vaccination Executive Order Means for Kids Heading Back to School

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millions of people show there is no link between vaccines and autism, and yet federal leaders continue to promote this outdated, disproven idea to scare families.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.