Trump Endorses Vaccine Study Recommending Changes in Childhood Immunizations

President Donald Trump endorsed a January study by the Department of Health and Human Services proposing a reduction in the number of vaccines recommended for American children. An executive order from Trump directs federal agencies to align policies with the study, which suggests changes long supported by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The study notes that the U.S. advises more childhood vaccines than many similar countries.

Previously, the Trump administration aimed to decrease the recommended vaccines for children, based on the report, but this move was blocked by a federal judge in Massachusetts. The administration is currently appealing the decision.

The study recommends vaccination against 11 diseases for all children. Additional vaccines, such as those for flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, certain forms of meningitis, and RSV, would only be advised for high-risk groups or when decided between doctors and parents in “shared decision-making.” This latest order supports the study’s findings as the administration shifts focus towards mainstream health concerns like diet.

Key directives from the order include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reviewing and updating vaccine recommendations. The CDC is tasked with providing “maximum flexibility to parents and doctors” and ensuring that all related actions, regulations, and funding align with the study’s guidance. The order emphasizes maintaining current vaccine access.

While states hold the power to require school vaccinations, and CDC recommendations generally influence state regulations, some states are forming alliances to counter the administration’s guidance.

This study was commissioned by Trump in December. Kennedy, a well-known vaccine skeptic, has long attempted to influence national vaccination guidelines. He recently declared that the CDC would stop recommending COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women, a decision that puzzled public health experts due to the lack of supporting data.

Kennedy also removed a 17-member CDC vaccine advisory committee, replacing them with several vaccine skeptics. The January report pointed out an increase in vaccine recommendations for American children over recent decades and highlighted countries that do not mandate vaccines for school attendance.