Trump signs order reducing recommended childhood vaccines

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for fewer childhood vaccinations by limiting the inoculation schedule to 11 immunisations.

The order also recommended splitting the childhood measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three shots and delivering the shots at separate medical visits.

US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr had in January cut the US immunisation schedule to remove shots against six out of 17 diseases, a move halted by a federal court ruling.

The order said the federal government will now only support the remaining 11 shots.

The federal government does not have direct control over several areas covered by the recent order.

States, for example, have the authority to require vaccinations for students to attend school.

On these points, Mr Trump's move is more of a suggestion than an order.

"States and territories are advised to review" the Trump administration's recommendations on "immunisation requirements for contexts such as school enrollment and attendance", the order states.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and vaccine maker Merck criticised the order.

Public health experts said the immunisation schedule was based on decades of evidence showing that the vaccines could protect against serious illness and death, and that the number of shots reflects the specific health needs of Americans.

They say reducing the recommended vaccines will leave more children vulnerable to preventable diseases.

"Effective immediately, my administration is recognising gold standard childhood vaccine recommendations for only 11 core vaccinations against the most serious and dangerous diseases, along with the MMR, which hopefully will be split up," Mr Trump said during a White House signing ceremony.

The US ended in January its longstanding guidance that all children receive vaccines against flu and three other diseases, a sweeping change that advances one of Mr Kennedy's long-term goals.

Mr Kennedy, a longtime vaccine critic, has previously led efforts to drop universal recommendations for hepatitis B shots for children and reduce the list of recommended vaccines, citing links to autism that scientists have repeatedly debunked.

The executive order said it reaffirms Mr Kennedy's overhaul despite the ongoing litigation.

The president's latest order arrives just as children across the country are readying to return to school and as the US suffers its worst measles outbreak in 35 years.

Polling indicates that most Americans still support vaccination, and in recent months both Mr Kennedy and Mr Trump had backed off anti-vaccination rhetoric which could spell negative repercussions in November's midterm vote.