President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order recognizing the Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations that limit universal recommendations for all children to 11 core vaccinations against the most serious diseases.
The order, issued under the authority of a prior presidential memorandum directing alignment with peer-developed nations, declares the United States recognizes these recommendations informed by a Department of Health and Human Services scientific assessment. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted the change on X, posting “No longer!” alongside thanks to President Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
No longer!
Thank you, President Trump and @SecKennedy! pic.twitter.com/GdTiQGAt0n
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) August 10, 2026
The Announcement and Core Details
In remarks captured in video, President Trump stated that “In many cases, we were requiring 72 jabs for our beautiful, healthy, lovely, delicate little children.”
Trump continued: “Effective immediately, my administration is recognizing gold standard childhood vaccine recommendations for only 11 core vaccinations against the most serious and dangerous diseases…”
According to the full text of the executive order published by the White House, the 11 immunizations recommended for all children are those targeting measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus, and varicella.
The order places other immunizations into two additional categories: those recommended for certain high-risk groups or populations (respiratory syncytial virus monoclonal antibodies, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal B, meningococcal ACWY, and dengue) and those based on shared clinical decision-making (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, influenza, and COVID-19).
It further recognizes that the combined measles, mumps, rubella vaccine should be administered in three separate single-disease shots once such products are domestically available, and that, to the maximum extent feasible, all childhood immunizations should be administered at separate medical visits.
How the Schedule Differs From the Past
A White House fact sheet accompanying earlier related actions stated that in 1980, American children following the CDC immunization schedule received 23 vaccine doses in 7 shots against 7 different diseases. By 2024, the recommended number of routine vaccines had risen to at least 84 vaccine doses in at least 57 shots for 17 diseases, plus the RSV monoclonal antibody immunization for a total of 18 diseases.
The HHS scientific assessment referenced in the order found that the United States currently recommends more childhood vaccines than any peer nation, including more than twice as many vaccine doses as some European nations. The new core list of 11 brings the universal recommendations closer to the lower end of schedules used in peer countries such as Denmark.
Reporting from The New York Times noted that the order builds on changes first advanced in January 2026 that reduced universal recommendations from 17 diseases to 11, a step that faced subsequent court challenges.
Current Placement
The August 10 order places the United States’ universal core recommendations at 11 diseases, matching the consensus set identified in the HHS assessment of peer nations while retaining access to additional vaccines through the high-risk and shared decision-making categories.
The executive order directs that the Gold Standard recommendations inform federal actions and urges states to consider updating immunization requirements. It also instructs the Attorney General to advance legal challenges against states that violate children’s rights to religious or medical vaccination exemptions, according to remarks reported alongside the signing.
HHS is directed to improve vaccine research options available to American parents. Coverage and access to existing vaccines remain available, with the order emphasizing parental choice and flexibility for doctors and families.
