August 13, 2026 (Washington, DC) — The Alliance for Women’s Health & Prevention (AWHP) is deeply troubled by the executive order signed this week by President Trump, which seeks to significantly overhaul the federal childhood immunization schedule and runs counter to broad scientific consensus built on decades of research.
The order proposes limiting the number of vaccines young children routinely receive and dividing vaccines into three categories. It also directs that the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine be administered as three separate shots, even though a “split” version of the shot doesn’t currently exist in the U.S., creating confusion at a time when cases of the measles have reached a 35-year high. The order further directs states to review federal vaccine recommendations and update their requirements for school enrollment, although it is less clear how many states would adopt these recommendations.
The Administration also continues to make scientifically unsupported and harmful claims linking childhood vaccines to autism. Our concerns are shared by leading organizations in the pediatric and neurodiverse communities. The Autism Science Foundation and the American Academy of Pediatrics have each issued statements warning that the executive order “diverts precious resources away from promising research around the actual causes of autism” and “sow[s] confusion so that more people doubt the importance of vaccines.”
In response to the executive order, Millicent Gorham, CEO of the Alliance for Women’s Health & Prevention (AWHP), issued the following statement:
“This week’s executive order undermines decades of scientific research, evidence accumulated through generations of use and established precedent surrounding childhood immunizations. By politicizing science and adding additional barriers to vital preventive healthcare, this Administration endangers millions of American children and families.
AWHP will continue advocating for policies that promote access to routine immunizations so that women and their families can live full and healthy lives.”
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About AWHP
The Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention is a non-partisan 501(c)(4) non-profit organization working to ensure that all women and girls have access to high-quality preventive care. Our mission is to advance policy that drives equitable access and prevents the burden and progression of disease to improve the lives and health of all women and girls. For more information, please visit WomensHealthandPrevention.org and follow us on LinkedIn and X @AWHPOrg.