Trump reduces number of recommended vaccines for children

**Trump reduces number of recommended childhood vaccines**

According to Euronews, Donald Trump has long been skeptical about the safety of the MMR vaccine. During his signing of the order in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump repeatedly suggested that the schedule or amount of the vaccine could contribute to an increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders. However, numerous studies have confirmed that there is no link between these vaccines and autism.

The order recommends reducing the number of vaccines recommended for children from 18 to 11 (according to the current recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics).

According to the order, the recommended vaccines for all children include vaccines against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumococcal infection, human papillomavirus and chickenpox.

The list excludes vaccines against hepatitis A and B, meningococcal disease, rotavirus, COVID-19 and influenza. These vaccines are recommended only for children in high-risk groups.

"We are reducing the number of vaccines," Trump said. "It's not just about fewer vaccines, it's about getting them in multiple visits to the doctor."

Trump called the decision "a huge victory for parental rights, religious and constitutional freedoms, and the highest level of science."

Public health experts warn that extending the vaccination schedule, as Trump proposes, increases the risk of a child getting a vaccine-preventable disease by the time they get their next appointment.

Children's vaccines, as well as their combination regimens, undergo rigorous clinical trials and are monitored for safety for years after they are introduced.

Dr. Andrew Resin, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said the order was creating "uncertainty, fear and confusion where none is needed." He criticized Trump's recommendations and said the current rules should remain in place.

"The science behind vaccines and their effectiveness has not changed," he said. "Neither has the spread of viruses and other pathogens in our environment. Nor have the children of this country changed in the last 48 hours."

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate Health Committee, sharply criticized Trump's order, saying on social media that vaccines are safe and do not cause autism.

"I am a doctor. This order is a mistake," the Louisiana senator wrote. "The president does not have the knowledge or experience to make these changes."

**The right to introduce mandatory vaccinations belongs to the states, not the federal government**

Trump's order is not mandatory, but rather advisory in nature, since vaccination requirements for admission to educational institutions are determined at the state level, not the federal government.

Nevertheless, the White House newsletter encourages states that have mandatory vaccinations for schoolchildren to review their legislation, taking into account the deadlines set by the administration.

Last December, Trump instructed the Department of Health and Human Services to study the experience of other countries regarding vaccination recommendations and consider the possibility of updating American standards accordingly.

In response, the department recommended reducing the number of vaccinations per child. However, this decision was later overturned by the courts. Normally, any changes to federal recommendations for childhood vaccinations must be approved by the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).