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Miss. (WLOX) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccines and spacing out the intervals between doses
Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney said the order does not change vaccine requirements for children attending school in Mississippi
“It really doesn’t change anything,” Edney said. “All of the vaccine recommendations come from the state level.”
The order directs the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review vaccine recommendations. Edney said the directive is largely aimed at states that do not have an exemption process
“We have the religious exemption process. So, the president was really directing that towards states that don’t have an exemption process,” Edney said
Edney said Mississippi will continue to follow state law regarding school vaccine requirements and will work closely with federal officials as guidance evolves
“We’ll work with the CDC and continue to follow the evidence and make sure that we have the right state policy to protect our children in the best way that we can,” Edney said
Edney pointed to Mississippi’s public health history as evidence of the effectiveness of the state’s vaccine policy. He said Mississippi has not recorded a measles case since 1992, attributing the record to years of consistent vaccine requirements
“We’re blessed in Mississippi that we just don’t see these diseases as other states are seeing it because of our public health policy,” Edney said
He also pointed to decades of data showing the effectiveness of childhood vaccinations
“We have over 70 years of experience that just shows the power of how vaccinations protect our children from very dangerous diseases that are simply just waiting to come back,” Edney said
ALSO READ:What Trump’s vaccine executive order means for your child in Mississippi
Edney encouraged parents with questions about vaccines to consult their physicians and health care providers
“I would ask that we not look to politicians and that we not look to social media to get the advice of what we need for the healthcare of our family, but that we pivot to our physicians and healthcare providers,” Edney said
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