What does President Trump’s order change about childhood vaccine guidelines?

Supervising Producer

WASHINGTON —

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday making major changes to childhood vaccine recommendations.

The order, which Trump described as “the gold standard for vaccine recommendations,” calls for spacing out childhood vaccines whenever possible.

It splits the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate shots, reduces recommended protection from 18 diseases to 11, and calls for improved research on vaccines, which experts say have already been widely and extensively studied. The order also advises states with school vaccine mandates to consider updating their laws.

In defending the move, Trump repeated his long-held claim that the number or timing of vaccines could be linked to a growing rate of autism in kids.

“While we do not know exactly what the cause is with respect to autism, it is essential to our research efforts that we have the very best vaccine recommendations in the entire world. So we’re reducing them,” Trump said. “This announcement is a major victory for parents’ rights, religious and constitutional rights, and for the gold standard science, and we will continue to do the research and update the recommendations as we learn more.”

Public health experts quickly condemned the order, warning it could increase the risk of infections before children are able to make it to their next doctor’s visit.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a statement reading in part:

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millions of people show there is no link between vaccines and autism, and yet federal leaders continue to promote this outdated, disproven idea to scare families.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

Other professional groups condemning the president’s action include:

Several lawmakers, including Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, who is also a doctor, criticized the order. Cassidy posted on social media, “I’m a doctor. This executive order is wrong. The President does not have the expertise to make these changes. Vaccines are overwhelmingly safe. Vaccines are effective. Vaccines DO NOT cause autism. Breaking up vaccines will mean children have to get more shots to get the same protection, not fewer shots. It will increase hesitancy and make children less safe. Parents should listen to their child’s pediatrician about vaccines rather than listening to an inaccurate executive order. This is so wrong.”

Watch more on Trump’s executive order on childhood vaccines: