US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order calling for significant changes to the country's childhood vaccination recommendations, including a push to separate the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three individual shots once standalone products become available in the United States.

The order also directs federal agencies to review childhood immunisation recommendations and encourages states and territories to reconsider vaccination requirements linked to school enrolment and attendance. However, the federal government does not directly control most state school-vaccine mandates, meaning the order largely serves as guidance in that area.

Trump's latest move reflects a broader effort by his administration and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reshape US vaccine policy. The new recommendations divide childhood vaccines into categories, with some vaccines moved into a shared clinical decision-making category rather than being routinely recommended for all children.

The administration has also called for childhood vaccinations to be given at separate medical visits where feasible. Public health experts have criticised the approach, warning that requiring additional appointments could create logistical barriers for families and increase the risk that children miss or delay important vaccinations.

— BBC