President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Monday advising states to revise childhood vaccine recommendations. In doing so, he and his administration made several false claims about vaccines and their link to autism. The order suggests splitting the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate shots and administering childhood vaccines separately whenever possible.
Concerns from Health Experts
Many public health experts have raised concerns about these recommendations. They argue that spacing out vaccines could increase the risk of children contracting vaccine-preventable diseases before returning for follow-up shots. For decades, research around the globe has shown that childhood vaccines are safe and effective in protecting children.
Trump’s Claims and the Facts
TRUMP: “In many cases, we were requiring 72 jabs for our beautiful, healthy, lovely, delicate little children.”
FACTS: This claim is misleading. In 2025, the government’s vaccine schedule recommended protection against 18 diseases. The number of injections varied depending on factors like vaccine brand and starting age. Excluding flu and COVID-19 vaccines, children received closer to three dozen shots. Vaccines are not mandatory as families can opt out, though schools require specific vaccines unless exemptions apply.
TRUMP: “You have the MMR, we want it in three separate vaccinations given at separate times. Together there could be a possibility they are quite lethal and separately, it looks like they are not at all lethal but just very effective.”
FACTS: This is false. Medical professionals agree that the combination MMR vaccine is safe and effective. Mild side effects may include a sore arm or mild rash. Separate vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella are not available in the U.S. As Dr. Aaron Milstone from Johns Hopkins Health System states, years of data highlight vaccine safety in children.
TRUMP: “Large amounts of vaccine, large amounts of like vats of vaccine are currently pumped into your child’s body.”
FACTS: This is incorrect. Vaccine doses range from 0.1 to 0.3 milliliters, much less than a 5-milliliter teaspoon. Dr. Molly O’Shea notes that vaccines are not delivered in ‘vats,’ contrary to Trump’s claims.
Potential Risks of Delaying Vaccinations
Delaying shots increases risks of children contracting diseases before return visits. Dr. Willie Underwood of the American Medical Association emphasizes that vaccines are among the most researched and effective ways to prevent diseases. Dr. Andrew Racine warns that delaying shots is particularly dangerous as measles rates rise.
Autism and Vaccines
HEALTH SECRETARY ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: “In 1970… scientists looked at all the 8-year-olds in Wisconsin… and they came back with an incidental rate of .8 per 10,000. The rate according to CDC today in this country is one in every 31 children.”
FACTS: It’s true only 1 in 10,000 children were diagnosed with autism in the past. However, expanded screening and diagnosis have increased autism prevalence to 1 in 31 as per 2025 CDC data. While some suggested childhood vaccines could cause autism, studies by the CDC and others have ruled out any link.
No environmental factor has been studied more extensively than vaccines as a potential autism cause. Research consistently shows no link between vaccines and autism across various studies globally, according to Dr. Alycia Halladay from the Autism Science Foundation. Kennedy has committed to conducting further studies on environmental factors potentially causing the disorder.
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