Im a doctor Trumps child vax order comes at bad time as US may lose measles elimination status

Timing is everything.And the executive order calling for pediatricians to change how they space out childhood vaccines comes at a difficult time.On Monday, President Trump signed an order adopting new recommendations of 11 childhood vaccines, down from 18 — and called for the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine to be split into three separate shots, given at separate times.Despite more than 55 years of safety data since the introduction of the combined MMR vaccine in 1971, the nation is experiencing a resurgence of measles cases.As of August 6, 2,465 confirmed measles cases have been reported in the United States in 2026, already above the total US cases in 2025 with four months to go.

This year has seen 38 new outbreaks — so far — and the most cases the US has seen in 35 years. The outbreaks put the country at risk for losing its measles elimination status, which we’ve held since 2000.It’s a public health accomplishment that means the US hasn’t seen very large outbreaks and hadn’t had 12 months or more of uncontrolled domestic transmission of the virus since before that time. But it may not last.The outbreaks are happening as medical professionals tasked with treating measles patients consider the medical fallout of the virus.

Even a child who recovers can later experience severe delayed neurological and organ damage, fatal brain inflammation and vulnerability to other dangerous infections.These vaccine-preventable problems can follow children well into adulthood.Then there are questions that arise from government messaging.

The executive order refers to a new “gold standard” in vaccine administration that includes administration of 11 vaccines instead of the standard 18.The newly confirmed director of the CDC has affirmed her support for vaccines, saying she believes that “vaccines are safe and effective” at her recent Senate confirmation hearing.

It is unclear whether Dr.Erica Schwartz, MD, is referring to the full list of chil...