Amid the return to school and the start of the new school year in each state, President Donald Trump signed an executive order changing how the federal government recommends vaccines for children, an announcement that sparked controversy.
This issue is very important to families because vaccines help protect against diseases that can be serious, such as measles, pertussis (whooping cough), and polio. The new guidelines divide vaccines into three groups.
The government recommends vaccines for all children against 11 diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, polio, chickenpox, and pertussis.
Other vaccines, such as those for hepatitis A and B and meningitis, are recommended for certain children at higher risk.
And vaccines against the flu, COVID-19, rotavirus, and some others would be more of a decision that parents should discuss with their doctor. The order also proposes a significant change to the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Instead of administering all three together, the government wants them to be given as three separate vaccines in the future.
It also recommends, whenever possible, administering childhood vaccines during separate medical visits.
However, individual measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines are not available in the United States, so the Department of Health has 90 days to submit a plan of action.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) deplored the announcement, asserting that it is not based on rigorous science and that “there is no new evidence to justify significant changes to vaccination recommendations.”
“Measles cases are at their highest level in 35 years in the United States, and with cold and flu season fast approaching, the executive order… is not only discouraging, but also dangerous,” the AAP warned. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician and chairman of the Senate Health Committee, stated that vaccines are safe, do not cause autism, and criticized the president for making medical changes without the necessary scientific expertise.
What should parents do in light of these opinions? For parents, the most important thing now is not to unilaterally change their children’s vaccination schedule. Rules can also vary by state, especially regarding school entry. Before canceling, delaying, or postponing a vaccine, speak with your child’s pediatrician and ask for recommendations based on their child’s age, health, and current illnesses in their community.
