By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose and Policy. In accordance with the Presidential Memorandum of December 5, 2025, titled “Aligning United States Core Childhood Vaccine Recommendations with Best Practices from Peer, Developed Countries,” the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has conducted a scientific assessment. This assessment compared U.S. childhood immunization recommendations with those of peer nations, examined vaccine uptake and public trust, evaluated clinical and epidemiological evidence, identified knowledge gaps, and reviewed vaccine mandates. The assessment revealed that the United States currently recommends more childhood vaccines than any peer nation, including more than twice the vaccine doses as some European countries. It also identified a set of vaccines that are universally recommended by peer countries. Additionally, it found that most peer nations achieve high childhood vaccination rates through public trust and education rather than implementing vaccination mandates.
My Administration is dedicated to ensuring that Americans receive the best scientifically supported medical advice available. Furthermore, it is committed to safeguarding religious liberty and parental authority. Therefore, the policy of the United States is to align the core childhood vaccine schedule with scientific evidence and best practices from peer, developed countries, while maintaining access to vaccines currently available to Americans. The Federal Government will continue to protect religious freedom and uphold all legal protections for parents.
Sec. 2. Updating the Childhood Vaccine Schedule. (a) The scientific assessment, with its proposed updates to the vaccine schedule categories, is recognized as a guiding resource for the Federal Government.
(b) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) shall review the scientific assessment and the most recent clinical data, and, as permitted by law, take appropriate steps to update the United States childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule. ACIP’s review should consider providing maximum flexibility to parents and doctors through recommendations for the timing and sequencing of routine immunizations.
(c) Each executive department and agency must ensure that all actions, regulations, funding, and coverage related to child and adolescent immunizations align with the schedule recommended by the ACIP and adopted by the CDC. This includes fulfilling all legal obligations regarding parental authority, religious freedom, disability accommodations, and equal protection under the law. Specifically, consistent with the Memorandum and the scientific assessment’s recommendations, all immunizations on the ACIP-recommended and CDC-adopted schedule should continue to be covered without cost sharing by private insurance, and covered by Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Vaccines for Children Program.
(d) The HHS Director of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs shall ensure that state government and health officials are informed of the policies in this order and make the scientific assessment available as a resource to guide their consideration of state vaccination laws.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Health and Human Services.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 29, 2026.
