Merck Blasts Trump's Vaccine Split Plan as Decades Away

Pharmaceutical company Merck has pushed back against President Trump's recommendation to split the MMR vaccine into separate shots for measles, mumps, and rubella. In a statement, Merck said that doing so could take up to 10 years due to the safety and efficacy requirements needed to obtain FDA approval.

Under current expedited review pathways, it would still take several years to meet these requirements and begin manufacturing and commercialization of single-disease shots. This means that splitting the vaccine as Trump has suggested is not a simple process, but rather a complex one that requires careful consideration and planning.