Trump Overhauls Vaccine Policy in Move Linking Shots to Autism

The directive, titled “Delivering Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations for Americans,” calls for splitting the MMR vaccine into three distinct shots and suggests spacing out immunizations over longer periods. Trump argued that reducing the number of vaccines administered in a single visit would address rising autism rates, despite a complete lack of scientific evidence connecting the two. When pressed for data supporting his claim that the combined vaccine could be “quite lethal,” the president failed to provide any supporting documentation.

Public health advocates and medical professionals quickly denounced the order as a dangerous escalation of anti-vaccine rhetoric. Protect Our Care warned that the guidance would likely lead to missed appointments and increased exposure to preventable diseases. Dr. Robert Steinbrook of Public Citizen labeled the policy a "mindless anti-scientific assault," noting that the changes would increase healthcare costs and threaten school vaccination requirements during a year already marked by a record-breaking measles crisis.

Even Republican allies have distanced themselves from the administration's stance. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a physician, publicly rejected the order, stating that the president lacks the medical expertise to mandate such changes. He emphasized that vaccines are safe and effective, and that fragmenting the schedule will only exacerbate vaccine hesitancy. This order follows a broader pattern of policy rollbacks under the Trump administration, including the removal of key advisory committee members and the redirection of mRNA-vaccine research funding.