President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to split the MMR vaccine into separate shots for measles, mumps, and rubella has been met with criticism from immunologists and vaccine experts. The order, which aims to give children fewer shots, has been deemed unnecessary and potentially harmful by many in the medical community.

Expert Concerns

According to Dr. Walter Orenstein, professor emeritus at Emory University and associate director of Emory’s Vaccine Center, splitting the MMR vaccine into separate shots would make it more of a hassle for people to get vaccinated, potentially leading to decreased coverage. Dr. Stanley Plotkin, a vaccine developer and emeritus professor at the University of Philadelphia, was more blunt, calling the recommendations ‘stupid’ and ‘unscientific’.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also agrees that there is no published scientific evidence showing any benefit in separating the combination MMR vaccine into three individual shots. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices carefully reviews and refines the US vaccine schedule, ensuring that every vaccine is given a full evidence review before being added.

Complications and Costs

Developing and distributing single-antigen vaccines would likely be complicated and costly. Merck, which makes two of the three currently licensed MMR vaccines used in the US, stated that reformulating the vaccine would require new development and testing, potentially taking years to meet safety and efficacy requirements.

Trump’s executive order gives the US Health and Human Services Secretary 90 days to present a plan for offering childhood vaccines, starting with the MMR vaccine, as single doses. However, experts warn that this could lead to more disease and less protection for children.

Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.