Trump pushes RFK Jr. to slash childhood vaccines to 11 diseases

President Trump is pressing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to slash the recommended childhood vaccine schedule, overruling political advisers who urged restraint ahead of the midterms.

President Trump is pushing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to cut the recommended childhood vaccine schedule from 17 to 11 diseases, pressing for action on an alleged vaccine-autism link that scientists say lacks evidence.

"Countless parents with questions and concerns about America's skyrocketing autism rates have long been ignored if not mocked," said Kush Desai, White House spokesman. "The Trump administration is committed to leaving no stone unturned to finally address these concerns with Gold Standard Science."

Kennedy in January proposed cutting the recommended childhood shots to vaccinations against 11 diseases, down from 17 under previous guidelines. Federal Judge Brian E. Murphy blocked the plan in March, ruling the government improperly bypassed a vaccine advisory panel. Trump signed an executive order in May demanding HHS cut the schedule, saying the U.S. was out of step with other nations.

The push threatens revenue streams for vaccine manufacturers including Merck & Co., Pfizer Inc. and Johnson & Johnson, which collectively generate billions from childhood immunization programs. Autism rates have risen to roughly 1 in 31 8-year-olds in 2022 from 1 in 150 in 2000, though scientists have yet to pinpoint a definitive cause, with some citing genetics, older parents and better screening.

White House Divided on Vaccine Strategy

Behind the scenes, the president's push has created tension within his administration. White House political advisers and pollster Tony Fabrizio found that vaccine skepticism was unpopular with voters, recommending Kennedy focus instead on popular food-safety initiatives such as removing dyes from products. Kennedy and his staff got on board, with top adviser Calley Means penning a memo about "green light" messaging on dietary guidelines and "red light" topics such as vaccines.

But Trump, at odds with his own aides, has not dropped his focus. He has told Kennedy that studying the vaccine-autism link should be his most important health policy priority, people familiar with the matter said. The president hopes alleviating autism could be part of his legacy.

Pharma Sector Faces Regulatory Uncertainty

The policy uncertainty comes as HHS faces broader challenges, including a three-decade high in measles cases and an expanding cyclosporiasis outbreak. Inside the department, officials have scrambled to show progress, with former Harvard epidemiologist Martin Kulldorff leading vaccine studies that could take months or years to complete. The National Institutes of Health has also launched studies on autism-related issues.

Meanwhile, speculation swirls about Kennedy's tenure. White House aides conducted a top-to-bottom review of HHS management last winter, and Medicare chief Chris Klomp now oversees day-to-day operations. Dr. Mehmet Oz, the CMS administrator, is widely viewed by lobbyists and HHS staff as a potential successor, possibly after the midterm elections.

The regulatory push creates a binary outcome for vaccine manufacturers: If the administration succeeds in cutting the schedule, childhood immunization revenue faces structural decline. If courts continue to block the changes, the industry avoids disruption — but the political pressure signals sustained uncertainty through at least the midterm election cycle.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.