U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Monday aimed at introducing greater flexibility in childhood vaccination and promoting further research into vaccines.
The announcement was made by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, while details of the order were first reported by Axios.
One of the main proposed changes concerns the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. The Trump administration wants these three vaccines to be administered separately rather than as a combined shot, with the individual doses given during different medical visits if separate vaccines become available in the United States.
According to the reported text of the order, it would also direct that, to the greatest extent possible, childhood immunizations be administered separately rather than in combination.
The order is also expected to instruct the Department of Health and Human Services to expand research into vaccines.
The proposed change has raised concerns among public health experts, who warn that separating vaccines could leave children unprotected for longer periods against preventable diseases.
