President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order that would cut the recommended childhood vaccination schedule from 18 to 11 shots, raising debate over vaccination safety and parental choice.
President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order that would sharply narrow the childhood vaccination schedule in the United States, cutting the number of recommended shots from 18 to 11, according to a fact sheet obtained by the Washington Examiner. The document says the move is intended to “maximize parental choices over vaccinations for their children”.
The order would build on recommendations from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention made late last year, although those changes have been tied up in litigation brought by medical groups including the American Academy of Pediatrics. According to the Washington Examiner, a federal judge has already found that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices did not follow proper administrative law procedures when it voted to reduce the number of childhood vaccines.
Among the most significant changes, the order is said to recommend splitting the combined MMR vaccine into separate shots for measles, mumps and rubella. That would mark a major departure from current practice: the CDC says combination vaccines are commonly used to reduce the number of injections children receive while still protecting them against multiple diseases, and it notes that giving several vaccines at the same time is considered safe and effective. The agency also says the MMR vaccine remains a key part of its schedule for children from birth through age 18.
The report comes as the CDC has continued to update its childhood immunisation schedule in response to the presidential memorandum issued earlier this year. In January 2026, the agency said it was revising the schedule while preserving access to existing vaccines, underscoring the tension between public health guidance and the administration’s push for greater parental control over vaccination decisions.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
