89 Democrats Urge Trump to Rescind Childhood Vaccine Order as Measles Cases Hit 35-Year High
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Aug 18
89 Democrats Urge Trump to Rescind Childhood Vaccine Order as Measles Cases Hit 35-Year High
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Aug 18
Summary
Eighty-nine congressional Democrats pressed Donald Trump to withdraw an executive order they say would cut universally recommended childhood vaccines and split the MMR shot into separate doses.
A letter sent Monday night by Chuck Schumer, Michael Bennet and House Democrats led by Kim Schrier said the order overrides decades of scientific evidence and would drive lower vaccination rates, more outbreaks, higher healthcare costs and school disruptions.
Measles cases this year already exceed the annual total of any of the past 35 years, lawmakers said, arguing the order raises the risk as more children go unprotected.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is reshaping the childhood vaccine schedule as health secretary, has said the order would give parents more choice.
Criticism has reached beyond Democrats: Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, a Republican physician who backed Kennedy's confirmation, called the order wrong and said Trump lacks the expertise to make such changes.