Public health experts have criticized an executive order from President Donald Trump aimed at altering childhood vaccinations in the U.S. The order presents significant financial and logistical challenges for parents, health providers, and drugmakers.
Order Details
The executive order demands that combination vaccines like the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine be divided into separate shots. It suggests spacing these and other vaccines apart as much as possible.
To implement this, drug manufacturers must bring back individual vaccines not used in the U.S. for many years. This requires new manufacturing facilities to produce millions more doses than currently distributed.
Impact on Parents and Health Providers
For parents, unbundling the MMR vaccine leads to more frequent doctor visits. Pediatricians could face increased workloads due to these additional appointments, causing higher costs associated with syringes and medical supplies. Studies indicate that combination vaccines help ensure children receive full protection from infectious diseases before school age.
Scientific Opposition
Experts argue there is no scientific basis for altering the vaccination process. Dr. Anna Durbin from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health expressed that the policy lacks justification and poses bad public health policy.
Challenges in Vaccine Development
Under Trump’s plan, the administration needs to devise a strategy within 90 days for separating the MMR vaccine and spacing out others. Pharmaceutical experts believe this could take years and necessitate a substantial financial investment. Currently, no separate measles, mumps, or rubella vaccines exist in the U.S.
Dr. Jesse Goodman, a former FDA vaccine chief, highlighted that companies would need to conduct large studies to prove the efficacy of individual vaccines. Reestablishing manufacturing capabilities and getting FDA approval would similarly require significant time and effort.
Economic and Practical Considerations
Building new vaccine plants and securing federal approval typically takes several years. Unbundled vaccines require separate FDA evaluation and licensing—a process lacking precedence. Lower-income countries, which cannot afford the bundled MMR vaccine, generally use individual shots.
Merck and GSK, suppliers of U.S. childhood vaccines, affirmed their support for the safety and effectiveness of the MMR vaccine. Neither manufacturer has disclosed intentions to unbundle the shots.
Separating the MMR shot results in more doctor visits, doubling from two to six. Additional spacing of other vaccines could further increase these visits. Such logistics could discourage parents from adhering to vaccination schedules, raising concerns about decreased vaccination rates.
Vaccine Order’s Feasibility
The executive order lacks legal binding power over drug manufacturers, who have little motivation to develop individual vaccines they already sell in combination form. Only states possess the legal authority to require vaccines for school attendance.
Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine researcher, expressed skepticism about the feasibility of Trump’s order being executed meaningfully. He noted that states are unlikely to comply with Trump’s medical guidance.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department, supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, continues to provide comprehensive coverage of immunizations.