The World Health Organization has reaffirmed the scientific integrity of childhood immunisation schedules following President Donald Trump’s order to review and potentially reduce vaccine recommendations in the United States, amid concerns over scientific evidence and public health implications.
The World Health Organization has defended the science-driven process used to set childhood immunisation schedules after President Donald Trump ordered a review aimed at reducing the number of recommended vaccines for children in the United States.
WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told reporters in Geneva that vaccine schedules are built on more than 60 years of research by the agency, national authorities and independent expert groups. He said the timing of each dose is based on extensive scientific review of when children are most vulnerable to particular diseases and how the immune system develops.
Trump signed the executive order on Monday, saying the revised schedule would give American children “gold-standard” protection and bring the US closer to other developed countries that recommend fewer injections. The White House has said the effort is intended to align core childhood vaccine recommendations with what it calls best practices from peer nations, following earlier directives in December and May that set the review process in motion.
The move reflects a long-running push by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has repeatedly questioned vaccine safety and promoted claims linking vaccines and autism, despite the lack of scientific evidence for any such connection. CDC guidance says US vaccine recommendations are developed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which weighs safety, effectiveness, disease risk and the benefits of immunisation before schedules are approved by professional medical groups. Medical associations and public health experts have warned that reducing recommended childhood shots could leave more children exposed to preventable illness and sow confusion among parents.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
