Trump Narrows US Childhood Vaccine Recommendations, Israel Maintains Current Policy

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order significantly narrowing the list of diseases for which universal childhood vaccination is recommended. The new directive limits routine vaccination to 11 diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal disease, chickenpox, and human papillomavirus. Vaccines for hepatitis B, influenza, and COVID-19 will no longer be universally recommended for all children but will be administered based on joint decisions between parents and healthcare providers or for high-risk groups. These vaccines remain available and are not banned.

The order also proposes separating the combined MMR vaccine into three individual vaccines once they become available in the US, and recommends administering vaccines during separate medical visits. However, public health experts warn this could prolong the period children remain unprotected and increase missed doses. The order encourages US states to reconsider their vaccine requirements for school entry, though states retain authority over such mandates.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from US medical professionals. Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, stated that the science supporting vaccine efficacy remains unchanged and that the order creates unnecessary confusion. Republican Senator and physician Bill Cassidy also opposed the order, warning that splitting vaccines would require more injections to achieve the same protection. The World Health Organization emphasized that vaccination programs should be tailored to each country's epidemiological and healthcare context, based on decades of scientific evidence.

In Israel, no changes have been made to the routine vaccination schedule following the US decision. The hepatitis B vaccine is administered shortly after birth, consistent with WHO recommendations to prevent mother-to-child transmission and chronic liver disease. Seasonal influenza vaccination continues to be recommended from six months of age, especially for young children and at-risk populations.