Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump Orders Vaccine Schedule To Be Spaced Out, Riling Experts Who Cite The Dangers
Roll Call: Trump Order Seeks To Stagger Childhood Vaccination Administration
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday to drastically change the childhood vaccine schedule by recommending shots be administered in separate visits to the doctor’s office. The executive order acts on Trump’s long-held belief that splitting up routine childhood vaccinations across multiple visits lessens the risk of acquiring autism. Scientists have found no credible risk between vaccinations and autism. (Cohen, 8/10)
The Hill: Sen. Bill Cassidy Blasts Trump Order On MMR Vaccine
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) blasted an executive order President Trump signed Monday that splits the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot across three separate visits. “I’m a doctor. This executive order is wrong. The President does not have the expertise to make these changes. Vaccines are overwhelmingly safe. Vaccines are effective. Vaccines DO NOT cause autism,” Cassidy wrote on social platform X shortly after the order was signed. “Breaking up vaccines will mean children have to get more shots to get the same protection, not fewer shots. It will increase hesitancy and make children less safe.” (Beitsch, 8/10)
The Hill: AMA Warns Trump's New Vaccine Order Puts Children's Health At Risk
The president of the American Medical Association on Monday said President Trump’s new recommendations on childhood immunizations put “children’s health at risk,” joining the chorus of medical experts criticizing the executive order. “Vaccines are among the most thoroughly studied, effective tools we have to protect children from serious vaccine-preventable diseases,” Dr. Willie Underwood III said in a release. “Decisions about how and when vaccines are used should be driven by rigorous scientific evidence, patient safety, and independent medical and public health expertise." (Rego, 8/10)
The Hill: American Academy Of Pediatrics Warns President Trump's Vaccine Order Is Dangerous
The president of the American Academy of Pediatrics blasted President Trump’s Monday executive order calling for fewer childhood vaccines. “As measles cases reach a 35-year high in the U.S. and with cold and flu season quickly approaching, today’s executive order on vaccines is not only disheartening but dangerous,” Dr. Andrew Racine said in a release. “Instead of ensuring every family can access life-saving vaccines for measles, influenza, RSV and more, federal leaders are once again spreading misleading claims,” he added. (Rego, 8/10)
Also —
CIDRAP: Pediatrics Group Recommends Flu Vaccine For All Children 6 Months And Older
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children 6 months and older without any medical contraindications receive the 2026-27 flu vaccine as soon as it’s available. “The good news is flu vaccines have been thoroughly studied,” Kristina A. Bryant, MD, a member of AAP’s Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID) said in a press release. (Holohan, 8/10)
The Texas Tribune: Texas Vaccine Requirements Unchanged This School Year
While vaccine requirements have not changed for Texas students this year — despite federal efforts to drop and space out some inoculations — Becca Harkleroad understands how many parents are confused. (Langford and Habashy, 8/10)
NOTUS: An Antidote To The Anti-Vaccine Movement Lives In Rural West Virginia
For a pediatrician, Mark Tomsho is surprisingly calm when talking about the decline of childhood vaccination rates. “Pendulums swing, pendulums swing,” he mused, Zen-like, in his office between seeing patients one April evening. “Nothing stays the same. And I find that truth and reality usually win out.” (Manto, 8/10)
In other vaccine news —
The Washington Post: GOP Lawmakers Release Fauci Texts Discussing Covid Vaccine And Pregnancy
The senators said the texts are among more than 34,000 recovered from a copy of the former government official’s iPhone. (Liss-Roy and Roubein, 8/10)
