I’m sipping my coffee and reading about President Donald Trump’s latest move, and folks, it’s a doozy. According to a draft obtained by CNN, Trump is set to sign an executive order that aims to reshape the federal government’s approach to childhood vaccines. The order proposes reducing the total number of immunizations recommended for children in their earliest years and dividing the nation’s childhood vaccine schedule into three categories. I mean, who doesn’t love a good categorization, right? It’s not like it’s a complex issue that requires careful consideration and scientific consensus.
The order also advises that the mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) vaccine be separated into three individual shots. Because, you know, one shot is just too much for our poor little kids to handle. I’m no doctor, but I’m pretty sure that’s not how vaccines work. And didn’t Trump say something about this last fall? Oh right, he said, “The MMR, I think, should be taken separately. This is based on what I feel.” Well, I feel like that’s not exactly how medical decisions should be made.
Under the draft order, the administration’s new policy would state that all children will be recommended to receive vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, pneumococcal disease, HPV, and varicella, or chicken pox. That’s a lot of vaccines, but I guess it’s better than nothing. Only high-risk populations will be advised to receive respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) monoclonal antibodies and vaccines against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal B, meningococcal ACWY, and dengue. I’m not sure what’s more confusing, the list of vaccines or the fact that Trump thinks he can just change the schedule willy-nilly.
Several of those vaccines, such as the hepatitis immunizations, will be subject to shared decision-making, or conversations with a child’s doctor. Because, you know, doctors don’t know what they’re doing, and parents need to have a say in whether or not their kids get vaccinated. I mean, it’s not like doctors have spent years studying medicine and have a better understanding of vaccines than, say, a president who thinks vaccines cause autism.
The Washington Post first reported on the draft executive order, and I’m sure they’re just thrilled to be breaking this story. Trump’s announcement is closely tied to a US Department of Health and Human Services effort in January to whittle down the number of recommended vaccines in the childhood schedule. Medical groups sued to challenge that revised schedule, and a judge ruled in their favor. But hey, who needs science and reason when you’ve got a president who thinks he knows better?
Trump has been pressing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for more action on the childhood vaccine schedule, as well as for stepping up efforts to search for links between vaccines and autism. Because, despite extensive scientific studies that have yielded no evidence of a connection, Trump is convinced that there’s a link. I mean, who needs evidence when you’ve got a gut feeling?
The executive order signing is slated for Monday afternoon, despite long-running reservations among Trump’s political advisers that advancing controversial vaccine policies is widely unpopular and could alienate voters ahead of November’s midterms. But hey, who needs popularity when you’ve got a president who’s willing to stake his reputation on a pet issue?
In conclusion, this story is a wild ride, folks. Trump’s executive order is a mess, and it’s clear that he’s more interested in pushing his own agenda than in listening to science and reason. But hey, at least it’s entertaining to watch. And who knows, maybe someday we’ll look back on this and laugh, saying, “Remember that time Trump tried to change the vaccine schedule and ended up causing a huge controversy?” Yeah, that’s probably exactly what will happen. 😂
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
