Trump Signs Memo to Align US Childhood Vaccines With Other Developed Countries

President Donald Trump signed a memo on Dec. 5 seeking to align U.S. childhood vaccine recommendations with best practices in “developed countries,” where children receive fewer vaccines than in the United States.

In his memo, Trump stated that when he started his second term in January, the U.S. recommended immunizing children against 18 diseases, including COVID-19, which is higher than those recommended in Denmark (10), Japan (14), and Germany (15).

“Other current United States childhood vaccine recommendations also depart from policies in the majority of developed countries,” the president said, adding that further study is needed to ensure that Americans receive “scientifically-supported medical advice.”

A White House fact sheet accompanying the memo stated that the U.S. currently recommends yearly influenza vaccines starting at six months, whereas many peer countries do not recommend yearly influenza vaccination as a core childhood vaccination.

“Practices like the hepatitis B vaccination at birth are standard in the United States, but uncommon in most developed countries, where it is typically only recommended for newborns of mothers who test positive for the infection,” the White House stated.

Trump directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to review best practices in “peer, developed countries” regarding core childhood vaccine recommendations and the scientific evidence behind those practices.

Should the HHS and CDC determine that those practices from developed countries are better than U.S. recommendations, they will need to update the U.S. core childhood vaccine schedule to align with such scientific evidence and best practices, while preserving access to existing vaccines for Americans, according to the fact sheet.

Trump first announced the memo in a Truth Social post, saying he had instructed the HHS to “fast track” a review of childhood immunization schedules in other countries and to align U.S. recommendations with those considered best practices.

The post came just hours after the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to stop recommending that infants receive the Hepatitis B vaccine except in cases in which a baby’s mother tests positive for the virus.

Trump expressed support for the move, saying the panel made “a very good decision.”

“Today, the CDC Vaccine Committee made a very good decision to END their Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendation for babies, the vast majority of whom are at NO RISK of Hepatitis B, a disease that is mostly transmitted sexually, or through dirty needles,” the president stated.

“The American Childhood Vaccine Schedule long required 72 ‘jabs,’ for perfectly healthy babies, far more than any other Country in the World, and far more than is necessary. In fact, it is ridiculous.”

Hepatitis B is a virus that causes problems such as dark urine and liver infection. It can be transmitted via exposure to bodily fluids from an infected person, as well as from a mother to child during pregnancy.

The CDC currently recommends that virtually all newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. A majority of ACIP members voted to end this recommendation for infants born to women who test negative for hepatitis B, leaving the decision to parents and health care providers after evaluating the risks and benefits of vaccination.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.