US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order calling for a rethink of the country's childhood vaccination policies, including school vaccine requirements and the use of the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot.The order, signed Monday (Aug 10), directs the US Health and Human Services Department to explore making the MMR vaccine available as three separate shots rather than primarily as a combination vaccine. It also asks states and territories to review federal recommendations on vaccination requirements for school enrollment and attendance.The move has drawn sharp criticism from medical experts, who say there is no scientific basis for splitting the MMR vaccine and warn that changing established vaccination guidance could increase vaccine hesitancy.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/baba-vanga-s-2026-prophecy-2-predictions-already-came-true-3-terrifying-ones-remain-first-human-alien-contact-world-war-3-and-putin-s-exit-1786169922573">Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside</a><h2>Trump pushes separate MMR shots</h2>Under the order, HHS will create a task force to work with the private sector and other countries to make individual measles, mumps and rubella vaccines available, while continuing to ensure access to combination vaccines.Trump has repeatedly questioned the combined MMR shot. His latest move comes as the US faces its worst measles outbreak in 35 years.Medical organisations, however, say decades of evidence support the safety and effectiveness of the combined vaccine. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Paediatrics, said developing and approving separate vaccines in the US could take more than a decade.Aaron M. Milstone, a member of the AAP's Committee on Infectious Diseases, urged parents to continue using vaccines with decades of safety data.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-sanctions-iran-s-crypto-network-after-strait-of-hormuz-attacks-offers-15m-bounty-for-intel-on-irgc-finance-1786150050092">US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance</a><h2>States retain control over school mandates</h2>The executive order also calls on states and territories to reconsider the administration's immunisation recommendations for settings such as schools. But the federal government cannot simply impose nationwide school vaccination requirements because states have authority over school enrollment and attendance rules.New York City Health Commissioner Alister Martin criticised the move, saying vaccination policy should not be dictated by politics. "Fortunately, vaccination recommendations are not set by the president, nor should they be," Martin said.<h2>Kennedy's vaccine agenda under scrutiny</h2>The order is closely aligned with the priorities of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine sceptic who has promoted claims linking vaccines to autism despite those claims being repeatedly debunked by scientific research.Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician who played a decisive role in Kennedy's confirmation, also opposed Trump's latest move. "This executive order is wrong," Cassidy said, arguing that it could increase vaccine hesitancy and make children less safe.The latest order comes just weeks before children return to school across the US, at a time when measles cases have surged. &nbsp;

Donald Trump has ordered a major rethink of childhood vaccination policy in the US, including the widely used MMR shot and school vaccine requirements. The move comes as measles cases surge across the country and has already triggered a sharp backlash from doctors.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order calling for a rethink of the country's childhood vaccination policies, including school vaccine requirements and the use of the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot. The order, signed Monday (Aug 10), directs the US Health and Human Services Department to explore making the MMR vaccine available as three separate shots rather than primarily as a combination vaccine. It also asks states and territories to review federal recommendations on vaccination requirements for school enrollment and attendance. The move has drawn sharp criticism from medical experts, who say there is no scientific basis for splitting the MMR vaccine and warn that changing established vaccination guidance could increase vaccine hesitancy. Also read | Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside Trump pushes separate MMR shots Under the order, HHS will create a task force to work with the private sector and other countries to make individual measles, mumps and rubella vaccines available, while continuing to ensure access to combination vaccines. Trump has repeatedly questioned the combined MMR shot. His latest move comes as the US faces its worst measles outbreak in 35 years. Medical organisations, however, say decades of evidence support the safety and effectiveness of the combined vaccine. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Paediatrics, said developing and approving separate vaccines in the US could take more than a decade. Aaron M. Milstone, a member of the AAP's Committee on Infectious Diseases, urged parents to continue using vaccines with decades of safety data. Also read | US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance States retain control over school mandates The executive order also calls on states and territories to reconsider the administration's immunisation recommendations for settings such as schools. But the federal government cannot simply impose nationwide school vaccination requirements because states have authority over school enrollment and attendance rules. New York City Health Commissioner Alister Martin criticised the move, saying vaccination policy should not be dictated by politics. "Fortunately, vaccination recommendations are not set by the president, nor should they be," Martin said. Kennedy's vaccine agenda under scrutiny The order is closely aligned with the priorities of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine sceptic who has promoted claims linking vaccines to autism despite those claims being repeatedly debunked by scientific research. Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician who played a decisive role in Kennedy's confirmation, also opposed Trump's latest move. "This executive order is wrong," Cassidy said, arguing that it could increase vaccine hesitancy and make children less safe. The latest order comes just weeks before children return to school across the US, at a time when measles cases have surged.

Donald Trump has ordered a major rethink of childhood vaccination policy in the US, including the widely used MMR shot and school vaccine requirements. The move comes as measles cases surge across the country and has already triggered a sharp backlash from doctors.

MMR vaccine under fire: Trump orders review as US battles worst measles outbreak in 35 years

Measles cases rose 300 per cent worldwide through the first three months of 2019 compared to the same period last year, the UN said Monday, as concern grows over the impact of anti-vaccination stigma.

Measles, which is highly contagious, can be entirely prevented through a two-dose vaccine, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) has in recent months sounded the alarm over slipping vaccination rates.&nbsp;

"Preliminary global data shows that reported cases rose by 300 per cent in the first three months of 2019, compared to the same period in 2018. This follows consecutive increases over the past two years," it said in a statement.

"While this data is provisional and not yet complete, it indicates a clear trend. Many countries are in the midst of sizeable measles outbreaks, with all regions of the world experiencing sustained rises in cases," it added.

The agency noted that only about one in 10 actual measles cases are reported, meaning the early trends for 2019 likely underestimate the severity of the outbreaks.&nbsp;

So far this year, 170 countries have reported 112,163 measles cases to WHO. At this time last year, 163 countries had reported 28,124 cases.

Unvaccinated 'clusters'

Measles -- an airborne infection causing fever, coughing and rashes that can be deadly in rare cases -- had been officially eliminated in many countries with advanced healthcare systems.

But the so-called anti-vax movement -- driven by fraudulent claims linking the MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella, and risk of autism in children -- has gained traction.

Repeated studies -- the most recent involving more than 650,000 children monitored for more than a decade -- have shown that there is no such link.

But according to WHO, global coverage for the first vaccine dose has been "stalled" at 85 per cent, while 67 per cent of people have received the second dose.&nbsp;

The provisional 2019 data shows that cases have spiked "in countries with high overall vaccination coverage, including the United States," WHO warned.&nbsp;

"The disease has spread fast among clusters of unvaccinated people," it added.&nbsp;

New York's mayor declared a public health emergency in parts of Brooklyn last week after a measles outbreak emerged in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, where some had resisted vaccination on religious grounds.

Calls have mounted in several countries to make measles vaccinations mandatory, including in Germany. Australia earlier this month launched a major education campaign to encourage residents to get vaccinated.

Turning the tide against measles will require "effective public-facing communication and engagement on the critical importance of vaccination, and the dangers of the diseases they prevent," WHO said.&nbsp;

700-per cent increase

While WHO has identified the junk science behind anti-vax propaganda as a public health threat, the data highlighted that measles still hit hardest in unstable countries with weak health systems.

The most dramatic rise in cases through the early part of the year was reported in Africa, which has weaker vaccination coverage than other regions. Africa saw a 700-per cent increase compared to last year.

At least 800 children have died from measles since September in Madagascar, where rampant malnutrition and a historically poor vaccine rate are driving the world's worse current outbreak.

In conflict-scarred Yemen, cases shot up more than 300 per cent in 2018 compared to 2017.

Venezuela, where the disease was once contained, has also seen tens of thousands of cases as the country's economic and political crises continue to push the healthcare system to the brink of collapse.

Measles cases rose 300 per cent worldwide through the first three months of 2019 compared to the same period last year, the UN said Monday, as concern grows over the impact of anti-vaccination stigma.

Measles cases rose 300 per cent worldwide through the first three months of 2019 compared to the same period last year, the UN said Monday, as concern grows over the impact of anti-vaccination stigma. Measles, which is highly contagious, can be entirely prevented through a two-dose vaccine, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) has in recent months sounded the alarm over slipping vaccination rates. "Preliminary global data shows that reported cases rose by 300 per cent in the first three months of 2019, compared to the same period in 2018. This follows consecutive increases over the past two years," it said in a statement. "While this data is provisional and not yet complete, it indicates a clear trend. Many countries are in the midst of sizeable measles outbreaks, with all regions of the world experiencing sustained rises in cases," it added. The agency noted that only about one in 10 actual measles cases are reported, meaning the early trends for 2019 likely underestimate the severity of the outbreaks. So far this year, 170 countries have reported 112,163 measles cases to WHO. At this time last year, 163 countries had reported 28,124 cases. Unvaccinated 'clusters' Measles -- an airborne infection causing fever, coughing and rashes that can be deadly in rare cases -- had been officially eliminated in many countries with advanced healthcare systems. But the so-called anti-vax movement -- driven by fraudulent claims linking the MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella, and risk of autism in children -- has gained traction. Repeated studies -- the most recent involving more than 650,000 children monitored for more than a decade -- have shown that there is no such link. But according to WHO, global coverage for the first vaccine dose has been "stalled" at 85 per cent, while 67 per cent of people have received the second dose. The provisional 2019 data shows that cases have spiked "in countries with high overall vaccination coverage, including the United States," WHO warned. "The disease has spread fast among clusters of unvaccinated people," it added. New York's mayor declared a public health emergency in parts of Brooklyn last week after a measles outbreak emerged in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, where some had resisted vaccination on religious grounds. Calls have mounted in several countries to make measles vaccinations mandatory, including in Germany. Australia earlier this month launched a major education campaign to encourage residents to get vaccinated. Turning the tide against measles will require "effective public-facing communication and engagement on the critical importance of vaccination, and the dangers of the diseases they prevent," WHO said. 700-per cent increase While WHO has identified the junk science behind anti-vax propaganda as a public health threat, the data highlighted that measles still hit hardest in unstable countries with weak health systems. The most dramatic rise in cases through the early part of the year was reported in Africa, which has weaker vaccination coverage than other regions. Africa saw a 700-per cent increase compared to last year. At least 800 children have died from measles since September in Madagascar, where rampant malnutrition and a historically poor vaccine rate are driving the world's worse current outbreak. In conflict-scarred Yemen, cases shot up more than 300 per cent in 2018 compared to 2017. Venezuela, where the disease was once contained, has also seen tens of thousands of cases as the country's economic and political crises continue to push the healthcare system to the brink of collapse.

Global measles cases up 300%  year-on-year: WHO

Global measles cases up 300 percent year-on-year: WHO

mmr-vaccine

Mmr Vaccine, News on Mmr Vaccine, stories on Mmr Vaccine, articles on Mmr Vaccine, Mmr Vaccine stories at Wion, Mmr Vaccine news, Mmr Vaccine latest news

mmr vaccine

MMR vaccine under fire: Trump orders review as US battles worst measles outbreak in 35 years

Global measles cases up 300% year-on-year: WHO

Global measles cases up 300 percent year-on-year: WHO