President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday to stagger routine childhood vaccinations, a move coming as measles cases rise to a 35‑year high in the United States, raising immediate concerns about public‑health impacts and insurance coverage.
The order, signed Monday, directs federal agencies to recommend that routine childhood shots be given in separate office visits rather than the current combined schedule. It echoes the White House’s long‑standing claim that spreading vaccines reduces autism risk, a hypothesis the administration cites alongside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the MAHA mothers group. The CDC’s recent proposal to cut the schedule from 17 to 11 vaccines is also referenced.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians and the American Lung Association warned the split schedule could widen vaccination gaps, fuel hesitancy and raise pediatric mortality as measles cases climb to a 35‑year high. Senate Health Committee chair Bill Cassidy said the move would make children less safe. Insurers and the Vaccines for Children program say coverage will depend on forthcoming HHS guidance.
The AAP labeled the order “dangerous,” while the White House and its allies argue that fewer shots per visit lower autism risk—a link that the scientific community says lacks credible evidence. This contrast underscores the partisan split over vaccine policy.