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Pediatricians say Trump's vaccine order could put kids at risk
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump’s new executive order proposes separating the combined MMR vaccine into three single-disease shots and altering the childhood vaccine schedule, a move criticized by doctors as unscientific and likely to cause confusion amid a measles outbreak.
- Medical experts emphasize that the combined MMR vaccine is safe and effective, with no scientific basis for claims linking vaccines to autism or suggesting the current vaccine is "lethal," as Trump implied.
- The order revives debunked vaccine-autism theories and conflicts with established immunization schedules recommended by pediatric authorities, potentially increasing vaccine hesitancy and risking lower immunization rates.
- Pediatricians warn that conflicting vaccine recommendations could lead to delays or refusals of essential vaccinations, endangering children’s health during a period of rising vaccine-preventable diseases.
- Experts call for clear, evidence-based vaccine guidance to maintain public confidence and protect children, highlighting that insurance coverage for recommended vaccines remains intact despite the order.
