Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday that calls for a major revision of the United States childhood vaccine schedule, urging that shots be given in separate medical visits. The move has been met with swift criticism from Canadian health organisations, which say the proposal is not backed by evidence and will not change Canada's own recommendations.
U.S. executive order on vaccine spacing
The order proposes that the measles‑mumps‑rubella (MMR) vaccine be split into three separate injections and that infants around one year of age receive their routine shots across five distinct appointments. It also directs the U.S. health department to expand research on vaccine timing. While the federal government cannot directly mandate school‑entry requirements, the order urges individual states to review their vaccination laws in light of the new guidance.
In the United States the first dose of MMR is normally administered between 12 and 15 months, with a second dose at four to six years. The new policy would replace that schedule with a series of visits, a change that health experts say could leave children vulnerable for longer periods.
Canada's unchanged immunisation schedule
Canadian Paediatric Society released a statement reaffirming support for Canada's routine childhood immunisation schedule, which is developed by health experts and grounded in scientific evidence. "Ensuring that children and youth receive all recommended vaccines according to the schedule is the best way to protect them against many serious illnesses," the society said.
The Canadian Public Health Association echoed the concern, noting that the U.S. recommendations are not supported by current evidence and should not cause Canadian parents to delay or alter vaccinations. "Nothing in the U.S. executive order changes Canada's vaccine recommendations," the association added.
World Health Organization Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the changes are not aligned with decades of evidence on optimal timing, dose number and safe co‑administration of vaccines. He said delaying or unnecessarily separating doses does not make vaccination safer and can leave children unprotected.
Health Canada confirmed that its childhood immunisation guidelines remain unchanged. The agency explained that two doses of a measles‑containing vaccine, either MMR or MMRV, should be given to children aged 12 months to under 13 years, with the first dose at 12‑15 months and the second at 18 months or later, but no later than school entry.
The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to monitor measles activity. As of early August, 1,114 cases have been reported across eight provinces and territories, and Canada lost its measles elimination status in November 2025 after sustained transmission of a single strain. The Pan American Health Organization has issued an alert urging countries, including Canada, to strengthen vaccination, surveillance and rapid outbreak response.
Despite the surge in measles cases in North America, Canadian officials stress that the country's vaccination programme remains a cornerstone of public health. No legislative or policy changes are expected in response to the U.S. order, and health authorities continue to promote adherence to the existing schedule to safeguard children's health.
Based on reporting by Global News.