Trump’s vaccine overhaul could fuel mistrust and leave Europe vulnerable to disease resurgence

Trump’s Vaccine Overhaul Could Leave Europe Vulnerable

Poinews.com – Trump s vaccine overhaul could significantly impact global health strategies. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday recommending a reduction in diseases covered by universal routine childhood vaccination from 18 to 11. Marco Cavaleri, head of the European Medicines Agency’s Public Health Threats Department, warned Euronews that such decisions may create immunisation gaps and fuel mistrust in vaccines.

“Skipping routine childhood vaccinations could be catastrophic,” Cavaleri said, adding that it risks “the return of diseases that we were able to contain and eliminate from our countries.”

Key Changes to Vaccination Recommendations

The executive order moves recommendations for COVID-19, influenza, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, RSV and hepatitis A and B away from universal routine vaccination. Some immunisations will remain recommended for children considered at higher risk, while others will be subject to “shared clinical decision-making” between parents and healthcare providers.

The order also recommends splitting the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate shots administered at separate visits. Separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are currently not available in the US. This move comes as US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has questioned vaccine safety and promoted claims linking vaccines to autism, despite extensive scientific evidence finding no causal association.

“The current evidence is unequivocal: vaccines – including the MMR vaccine – are safe and do not cause autism,” World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X on Wednesday.

Impact on Vaccine Confidence and Disease Prevention

Combination vaccines can make immunisation easier for children, parents and healthcare workers. Therefore, vaccine development has been moving towards more combination vaccines, rather than fewer. Cavaleri noted that this decision goes against what the future holds for better protection across all age groups.

“So in actual fact, this [US] decision is going against what the future is going to bring to us in terms of getting better protection for children, adults and the elderly,” Cavaleri explained, adding that “there is no scientific basis to split these vaccines.”

The changes could reinforce vaccine hesitancy, potentially leaving populations more vulnerable to outbreaks of preventable diseases. Tedros emphasized that recent changes to US immunisation policy are not aligned with decades of evidence, which is reviewed continuously as new data emerge globally.

Europe Faces Potential Risks

Europe has already witnessed the consequences of falling vaccination coverage. Six countries — Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Spain, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan — were found to have re-established measles transmission in 2024, according to the WHO.

“We are already now seeing the return of measles whenever the vaccination coverage gets lower,” Cavaleri said. “And we will see more coming, unfortunately, in the United States and other parts of the world.”

The European Commission’s State of Vaccine Confidence report found that overall vaccine confidence has declined among the general public since 2020, with particularly notable decreases in many Central and Eastern European countries. Health experts warn that the US decision could further undermine public confidence in vaccines across Europe as well.

FAQ: Understanding the Vaccine Changes

What diseases are affected by the new vaccination recommendations? COVID-19, influenza, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, RSV, and hepatitis A and B are moving away from universal routine vaccination.

How does splitting the MMR vaccine affect children? Splitting the MMR vaccine into three separate shots requires additional healthcare visits, which could lead some families to delay or skip vaccinations entirely.

Which European countries have seen measles resurgence? Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan re-established measles transmission in 2024.

Will parents still have a choice in vaccinations? Yes, parents can still choose to vaccinate their children through shared clinical decision-making with healthcare providers.

How might this affect European vaccine confidence? The European Commission’s report shows declining confidence since 2020, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. US policy changes could amplify this trend across the continent.

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