In a contentious move that has raised concerns among health experts and medical professionals, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order advocating for a reduction in the number of childhood vaccines from 18 to 11, as well as recommending the splitting of mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) shots. The order was announced on Monday, with Trump citing historical data showing that children received fewer vaccines in the past, a time when he claims people were healthier and autism rates were significantly lower. However, numerous studies have failed to establish a link between MMR vaccines and autism. Under this new directive, recommended immunizations for all American children include measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus, and varicella or chickenpox. Trump's Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F Kennedy Jr, defends the changes as an effort to provide parents with more choice, rather than restricting access to childhood vaccines. However, it is important to note that the federal government does not have the authority to enforce these new recommendations, as vaccination requirements for school attendance are set at the state level. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has condemned Trump's executive order as "dangerous," pointing out that the move comes as measles cases in the US reach a 35-year high. Health officials warn that delaying or skipping recommended immunizations could potentially lead to a resurgence of diseases like measles.