The CDC says many studies have looked at whether there is a connection between vaccines and autism and found no link.
What to know about Trump’s new kids vaccine executive order
The new schedule does not force parents to limit vaccinations, instead, it recommends shots be spread out.
President Donald Trump said he is trying to prevent autism by encouraging parents to give their children smaller vaccine doses split into multiple shots, again tying vaccines to autism despite researchers finding no such link.
Trump told a crowd gathered in the White House Rose Garden Aug. 24 for an education event that “I think you’re going to see a very big difference in the rate of autism” if children have multiple “little shots” instead of one “massive shot.”
“We’re strongly requesting, even telling people, when you get your shots for your young child – this has to do, we think, with preventing autism – that you go to the doctor for five small shots instead of one, big, massive shot,” Trump said.
“You do it in five different shots,” Trump continued, adding: “Small little shots where those beautiful little bodies can handle it.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says many studies have looked at whether there is a connection between vaccines and autism and “to date, the studies continue to show that vaccines are not associated with” autism.
Trump signed an executive order Aug. 10 calling for more vaccine “flexibility,” fewer shots and splitting the combined childhood measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three shots at different times.
Trump said during the announcement that the MMR vaccine could be “quite lethal.” Experts say the vaccine is safe and effective, and research indicates that dividing it into multiple shots has no health benefit.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, contradicted Trump’s statement about the MMR shot during an interview Aug. 23 on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” saying it is “not a lethal vaccine.”
Separate vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella are not manufactured for regular use in the United States. Splitting the shot up decreases vaccination rates and leaves children unprotected over a longer period, experts say. Additional shots also would be more time consuming for families and could increase insurance costs said Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, a physician who criticized Trump’s vaccine order.
“This is inconvenient. It’s going to contribute to an increased loss of income. And by the way, instead of the insurance company paying for two doctor’s visits, they’re paying for six, which is going to ultimately drive up premiums, going after affordability,” Cassidy, who lost reelection after Trump endorsed his opponent, told CNN.
Contributing: Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Sara Moniuszko