Article Summary –
A coalition of healthcare providers and advocates in Michigan is opposing President Trump’s executive order from August 10, which calls for reducing the number of federally recommended childhood vaccinations, citing concerns over increased risks of diseases like flu and measles. The executive order proposes reducing the recommended vaccines from 17 to 11, removing those for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, influenza, and COVID-19, and calls for splitting the MMR vaccine into separate shots, a claim criticized by health experts as misleading and impractical. As vaccine participation declines and exemption rates reach a record high, Michigan and the U.S. have seen a rise in vaccine-preventable diseases, with experts emphasizing the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates to protect vulnerable populations and achieve herd immunity.
A coalition of healthcare professionals and advocates in Michigan is opposing an executive order from President Donald Trump issued on Aug. 10 that aims to reduce the federally recommended number of childhood vaccinations. This order has caused confusion among parents as students prepare to return to school this fall, increasing the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases like flu and measles, explained Megan Petzko-Sweet, Executive Director of Michigan for Vaccines.
“This executive order is concerning,” Petzko-Sweet told the Michigan Independent. “It’s not based on science. These diseases are not just itchy rashes; they can be potentially fatal.”
The childhood vaccination schedule provides federal guidelines on immunizations. Trump’s executive order aligns with changes recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a notable anti-vaccine movement figure.
Fifteen states filed a lawsuit in February against Kennedy and Jayanta Bhattacharya, then CDC Director, warning the changes would escalate vaccine-preventable disease cases and burden healthcare systems. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy issued an injunction in March, while Judge Vince Chhabria denied a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on Sept. 8.
In his order, Trump suggested vaccinating children against 11 diseases instead of 17. Dr. James Campbell of the American Academy of Pediatrics clarified it doesn’t change current recommendations. If followed, vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio would remain recommended, while hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, influenza, and COVID-19 would be omitted.
The executive order also suggests splitting the MMR vaccine into three separate shots. Dr. Joshua Sharfstein from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health called this claim misleading, noting, “The U.S. vaccinates against 17 diseases. Other countries vary, with Denmark vaccinating against 10.”
Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, reiterated in a Department of Health and Human Services press release that the state’s vaccination guidance is unchanged. She urged adherence to the immunization schedule by the American Academy of Pediatrics or American Academy of Family Physicians, grounded in scientific evidence.
Michigan law mandates six vaccines for school attendance, barring exemptions for medical, religious, or philosophical reasons. State health data shows declining vaccine participation, with exemption rates reaching a high of 7.1% in 2025.
The drop in vaccination rates has led to rising cases of vaccine-preventable diseases. According to data from Bloomberg School, the U.S. has seen the highest measles cases in 35 years, mostly among unvaccinated individuals. Michigan experienced its first measles outbreak since 2019, with cases in multiple counties and 16 reported cases as of Sept. 17.
Petzko-Sweet indicates that fewer vaccinated children increase disease spread in schools and communities. Infants and immunocompromised individuals are most vulnerable to severe illness. The American Medical Association stresses a 95% vaccination rate for herd immunity against measles.
“As a society, we must remember that community exists, and we need to protect each other from potentially fatal diseases,” Petzko-Sweet stated.
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