Physicians warn that disregarding established medical evidence will increase confusion, deepen vaccine hesitancy and leave children vulnerable to preventable diseases
The Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS) opposes the executive order signed by President Donald Trump on August 10 that seeks to significantly alter the nation’s childhood immunization recommendations.
The order narrows the vaccines universally recommended for children, encourages vaccines to be administered during separate medical visits and calls for the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to be divided into individual shots. The administration also invoked the repeatedly disproven claim that vaccines may be connected to autism.
These directives contradict decades of scientific research and established medical guidance. Numerous large-scale studies have found no causal connection between vaccines and autism. The current childhood immunization schedule is carefully developed and continually reviewed to provide children with safe, timely and effective protection against serious diseases.
“Vaccination recommendations should be guided by rigorous scientific evidence and established clinical expertise,” states Sara Hussey, ACMS Executive Director. “The childhood immunization schedule is built on decades of research, safety monitoring, and real-world experience protecting children and communities from serious, preventable diseases.”
With support from ACMS, the Allegheny County Immunization Coalition recently contributed expertise to a six-month investigation by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette examining declining school vaccination rates and the resulting public health risks. The investigation found:
- Nearly 16,000 Pennsylvania students are attending school unvaccinated and without approved exemptions.
- When exemptions are included, more than 40,000 students are not fully vaccinated.
- A total of 654 elementary schools statewide, including more than 60 in Allegheny County, have fallen below the 95% vaccination threshold generally needed to prevent sustained measles transmission.
These figures represent more than a theoretical concern. Declining immunization rates create vulnerabilities in the schools and communities where children learn, interact, and depend upon one another for protection. Infants, immunocompromised children and others who cannot safely receive certain vaccines face especially serious risks when community immunity declines.
The ACMS urges federal and state leaders to protect access to the full range of recommended childhood vaccines, preserve evidence-based immunization standards and reject unsupported claims that fuel fear and distrust. The ACMS also encourages parents with questions to speak directly with their pediatrician or family physician.
About the Allegheny County Medical Society
The Allegheny County Medical Society provides leadership and advocacy for physicians and works to advance the health of patients and communities throughout Allegheny County. Through education, collaboration and public engagement, ACMS supports evidence-based medicine and a strong physician-patient relationship.
