Cincinnati pediatrician Dr. Kristen Dinkelacker says that despite a recent executive order from President Donald Trump, nothing is changing immediately when it comes to childhood vaccine recommendations in the United States.
Understanding the Executive Order
The executive order recognizes what the Trump administration calls ‘gold standard’ recommendations for 11 core childhood vaccinations and calls for childhood immunizations to be administered at separate medical visits. It also proposes separating the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into individual shots.
Dr. Dinkelacker plans to continue following existing evidence-based childhood immunization recommendations, stating that there is no new science or research to back up the changes proposed by the executive order.
Concerns About Separating Vaccine Appointments
One of the biggest practical changes proposed by the executive order involves how vaccines are administered. Dr. Dinkelacker said there is no medical need to separate routine vaccines across multiple appointments, as it is completely safe for children to receive multiple vaccines or combination vaccines at one time.
Requiring families to return for additional appointments could make vaccinations more expensive and inconvenient, while increasing the chance that children miss doses. Delaying doses also extends the amount of time a child could remain vulnerable to a vaccine-preventable disease.
American Academy of Pediatrics Response
The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly criticized the executive order, stating that there is no new scientific evidence supporting significant changes to childhood immunization guidance. The organization defended administering multiple vaccines during the same appointment and the use of combination vaccines, emphasizing that on-time immunization keeps children and communities healthy and thriving.
Dr. Dinkelacker encourages parents to get their information from their child’s doctor, who has their child’s best interest in mind and has built trust with them. Parents can also find the American Academy of Pediatrics’ full 2026 childhood and adolescent immunization schedule, including recommendations by age and catch-up guidance for children who are behind on vaccinations.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
