WASHINGTON — In a surprising move, President Trump announced on Monday a proposed overhaul to the childhood vaccination schedule, raising claims without scientific backing that many vaccines are unsafe in their current form. The announcement came during a White House press conference focused on the rising rates of autism among children, a topic Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have been advocating for.
While Trump has previously expressed skepticism regarding certain vaccines, his remarks during this event marked the most detailed outline of his concerns and proposed changes to date. The president emphasized that he has engaged in discussions with Kennedy on these matters.
The remarks, described by critics as potentially dangerous, suggested a new approach to administering vaccines. Trump expressed a strong aversion to the number of vaccinations given to infants, recounting personal anecdotes and urging parents to split vaccinations into four or five visits instead of the established schedule. “Don’t do it,” he warned parents, advising against the current guidelines that are rooted in scientific research, saying, “Get them broken into four or five visits. … It can only help. There’s no downside. It can only be good.”
Health professionals and public health experts have voiced serious concerns over Trump’s proposal, indicating that it could drastically impact the control of infectious diseases in the U.S. Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, called the remarks “dangerous” and stressed that they convey a misleading message to parents, jeopardizing the well-being of autistic individuals.
Kennedy, known for his anti-vaccine advocacy, has sought to alter vaccine recommendations. Experts in the field have raised alarms that Trump’s unsubstantiated proposed changes to childhood vaccines may expose children to unnecessary illness and even fatalities.
Trump suggested significant modifications, including extending the timeframe for administering vaccinations over four to five years, splitting the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into separate injections, delaying the hepatitis B vaccine until age 12, and removing heavy metals like aluminum and mercury from vaccine formulations. However, previous studies have shown that thimerosal, the mercury-based preservative, has already been eliminated from most vaccines, and aluminum, in small doses, has been proven safe for children’s health.
Such proposals risk prolonging children’s vulnerability to preventable diseases and contradict decades of established medical guidance. “Delaying vaccines means that children will lack immunity at critical times,” Kressly asserted.
Health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have recommended adherence to the established vaccination schedules, meticulously designed for maximum efficacy and protection. Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist, compared the vaccine schedule to a seatbelt, emphasizing the importance of timely vaccinations.
Trump appeared to liken the current vaccination practices for children to administering excessive dosages of medication to horses. He shared his beliefs regarding the MMR vaccine, alleging long-standing concerns about its safety, despite widespread acknowledgment of its lifesaving capabilities.
Implying that vaccinations might be linked to rising autism rates, a claim widely discredited by scientific research, Trump mentioned that unvaccinated groups, such as Amish populations, reportedly do not see autism cases. “It’s a disgrace,” he contended, labeling the existing vaccination schedule as flawed while flanked by Kennedy and other health officials.
The American Psychiatric Association quickly countered these claims, reiterating that vaccines do not cause autism and that assertions to the contrary have been dismissed in numerous peer-reviewed studies.
Throughout the event, Trump shared his historical conversations with Kennedy about vaccine-related issues, indicating that these discussions have spanned nearly two decades. Former CDC director Susan Monarez highlighted that Kennedy’s proposed changes lack robust scientific validation.
Despite previously asserting his support for vaccinations, Trump maintained that his commentary during the event was a reflection of his personal views, rather than a public health mandate. “I’m not so careful with what I say,” he commented, suggesting that his proposed changes should be considered expeditiously.
Additionally, Trump recommended postponing the hepatitis B vaccine until children turn 12, despite the fact that the CDC’s guidelines recommend vaccination shortly after birth. Hepatitis B can be transmitted from mothers during childbirth, making early vaccination critical.
Kennedy’s restructured vaccine advisory committee has pondered delaying the first hepatitis B vaccination until infants are older. However, the committee opted to defer any vote on the matter due to lingering uncertainties regarding safety and effectiveness.
Trump also expressed support for separating the MMR vaccine doses, currently administered in a combined shot. Such an alteration could complicate vaccination logistics, potentially exposing children to diseases for extended periods as they wait for additional appointments.
As he called for significant changes to pediatric vaccination practices, Trump conveyed an understanding of his own limitations regarding medical expertise: “I’m not a doctor, but I’m giving my opinion,” he concluded.
