Acting U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Jim O’Neill has called for the MMR vaccine to be administered as three separate shots, a proposal that aligns with statements made by former President Donald J. Trump. O’Neill’s remarks echo Trump’s social media post advocating for breaking up the combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine into individual doses.
The discussion involves Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., vaccine manufacturers Merck and GSK, and public health officials. O’Neill stated, “Thank you POTUS for your leadership. I call on vaccine manufacturers to develop safe monovalent vaccines to replace the combined MMR.” Trump’s post emphasized separating vaccines like the chickenpox shot and delaying the hepatitis B vaccine until age 12 or older.
The MMR vaccine, introduced in 1971 by Merck and GSK, has faced long-standing criticism, with some linking it to autism. HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon noted that standalone vaccinations could reduce side effects and offer parents more flexibility. However, health experts warn that spreading out immunizations might disrupt schedules and increase illness risks between doses.
