New York’s recommended school and child care vaccine schedules remain the same as they were before President Donald Trump’s Aug. 10 executive order on vaccinations. That is as it should be.
Trump failed to provide any scientific evidence to justify the changes, which include reducing recommended vaccines from 17 to 11, advocating to separate the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three vaccines and calling on states to allow religious exemptions in addition to medical ones.
Regardless, our state and New York City health departments are not changing immunization requirements, and that is for the best.
The idea of separating the MMR vaccine is rooted in debunked theories about a purported link between the vaccine and rates of autism. Numerous scientific studies have confirmed that there is no link.
New York State once did allow both medical and religious exemptions, but in 2019 mandated only medical exemptions after New York suffered its worst measles outbreak in 25 years.
It’s clear that Trump’s order is rooted in politics. Its goal is to sow doubt and confusion, and it will lead to lower vaccination rates and sicker people. For everyone’s safety and health, we must stick to the science.