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Dr. John Swartzberg, an infectious disease expert at UC Berkeley, pulled no punches reacting to President Donald Trump’s latest effort to scale back the number of vaccines recommended for American kids. The doctor’s message a day later was clear and assertive: Ignore the federal government
“This executive order, made by individuals who are ignorant about science, medicine and evidence, is not only nonsense but it is dangerous,” Swartzberg said in an email. “It will result in fewer children being protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.”
On Monday, Trump signed an executive order that seeks to reduce the number of vaccines administered during a particular doctor’s visit. It also seeks to break up the M.M.R. vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella into separate shots rather than a combined single shot. Current guidance calls for two doses of the combined vaccine, the first at 12-to-15 months and the second at 4-to-6 years old, just before school starts
The executive order also threatens with legal action states like California that have banned religious or personal-belief exemptions for immunizations required for public school entry
“When it comes to vaccines, please do not listen to the federal government as you will get a politicized version of science,” Swartzberg said
Instead, Swartzberg directs local residents to seek guidance from the California Department of Public Health, which he called a “superb res in line with the vaccine schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
On Monday, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Andrew Racine, called Trump’s order “not only disheartening but dangerous,” particularly in light of the rise in measles cases, which have reached a 35-year high in the United States
“Instead of ensuring every family can access life-saving vaccines for measles, influenza, RSV and more, federal leaders are once again spreading misleading claims,” Racine wrote in a statement
Dr. Christine Wu, Napa County’s public health officer, echoed Swartzberg’s concerns about Trump’s executive order. She said the president’s guidance veers from recommendations of the Academy of Pediatrics and other leading U.S. medical organizations. Her biggest concerns, she said, are that fewer vaccines may be routinely recommended for all children and that “parents may be encouraged to delay or spread out vaccines that have been carefully studied and scheduled to provide protection when children need it most.”
She and other health experts also raised concerns about breaking up the MMR vaccine into separate shots. She said research shows that giving multiple vaccines at the same visit is “safe and effective.” Vaccines like MMR reduce the number of injections while protecting against multiple diseases
“These changes risk creating confusion for parents and health care providers at a time when vaccine confidence is already under strain,” Wu said
Wu pushed back on claims by the Trump administration that the current vaccine schedule has not received adequate study. Infectious disease experts stress that childhood vaccine schedules have been extensively studied for decades. Schedules are designed to provide protection to kids when they’re the most vulnerable to serious disease, Wu said. Delaying the time of vaccines leaves them unprotected during key periods of their growth
She called Monday’s executive order a political move that only complicates health guidance and makes the work of public health officials more difficult. That work depends on coordination, consistent messaging and public trust, she said
The federal government’s contradictory guidance, on the other hand, could create confusion for county health departments, local pediatricians, schools and community groups responsible for protecting local communities
States maintains authority over school vaccinations requirements. Trump’s executive edict could create a “confusing patchwork of federal recommendations and state requirements,” Wu said
Dr. Mia Shim, Sonoma County’s health officer, said the president’s order goes against decades of research and ongoing safety monitoring that has shown childhood vaccines are “safe, effective and protect children from serious diseases.”
She said there is no credible evidence that shows vaccines cause autism — a widely debunked claim that has been a cause célèbre for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s most prominent vaccine critic. As the nation’s top health official, he has taken steps to both support vaccination as a public health tool and undermine it
Shim also said there’s no new scientific evidence that supports delaying vaccines, splitting up combination immunizations or removing recommended vaccines from the current childhood schedule
“This order risks confusing families and making it harder for children to receive vaccines on time,” Shim said in an email. “Requiring additional appointments does not make vaccination safer. It leaves children unprotected longer, places a greater burden on families and makes missed vaccinations more likely. When vaccination rates fall, preventable diseases return, children can become seriously ill, and outbreaks disrupt schools and communities.”
Shim said the executive order does not change California public school immunization requirements. She recommended families continue to follow theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics immunization schedule
“As the new school year begins, I encourage parents and caregivers to check their child’s vaccine record and talk with their healthcare provider about any vaccines they need,” she said
You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 707-521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com
