Donald Trump signs executive order to reduce childhood vaccination guidelines

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at reforming childhood vaccination guidelines. The order proposes reducing the total number of recommended immunizations from 18 to 11 and suggests administering the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in separate, spaced-out doses.

The new federal guidelines categorize vaccines into three groups: those recommended for all children, those for high-risk populations, and those based on shared clinical decision-making. This move contradicts previous recommendations from official U.S. health organizations and a prior judicial measure intended to block such changes.

In response, New Jersey officials have confirmed that state vaccination rules remain unchanged. The federal order does not alter local laws or the immunization requirements for students attending daycare, primary schools, secondary schools, or universities in New Jersey. Dr. Raynard E. Washington, New Jersey Commissioner of Health, stated that the state will continue to ensure families have access to vaccines that protect children, emphasizing that the evidence supporting childhood immunizations remains clear.