Trump Limits Childhood Vaccines to 11
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order limiting the recommended childhood vaccines to 11, despite criticism from medical experts and vaccine manufacturers.
The order, which was signed on August 10, 2026, also recommends splitting the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate shots given at different medical visits.
According to the order, the federal government will only support vaccines against 11 core diseases, in addition to the MMR vaccine. This decision comes after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reduced the number of recommended vaccinations from 17 to 11 in January, a move that was halted by a federal court ruling.
Public health experts have expressed concerns that reducing the recommended vaccines will leave more children vulnerable to preventable diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics and vaccine maker Merck criticized the order, saying it is not based on scientific evidence.