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By Joe Edwards
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Several states may be positioned to push back against President Donald Trump’s new childhood vaccine order, according to a state-by-state tally showing that many jurisdictions already rely on medical sources other than the CDC for vaccine guidance.
Trump signed an executive order on Monday recognizing new "Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations," which would reduce the number of diseases for which all children are federally recommended to receive immunizations and advise states to review school-entry vaccine laws.
The order also calls for the combined MMR vaccine to be split into separate measles, mumps and rubella shots once those products are available domestically, and says childhood immunizations should be administered at separate medical visits "to the maximum extent feasible," Newsweek reported Monday.
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As of early May, at least 30 jurisdictions rely on sources other than the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for at least some state childhood vaccine recommendations, according to KFF.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email on Tuesday.
Twenty-six states and Washington, D.C., rely on alternative sources for all childhood vaccines, while Alaska and Mississippi do so for hepatitis B only and Arizona does so for COVID-19 and hepatitis B vaccines, according to KFF’s May tally.
The divide falls largely along party lines: all 25 Democratic-led jurisdictions, including Washington, D.C., rely on sources other than CDC/ACIP for childhood vaccine recommendations, compared with five Republican-led states.
KFF explained its tally tracks "states that have announced they are no longer following federal government recommendations for childhood vaccines."
A Vermont Department of Health spokesperson told Newsweek that the state recently updated its laws to authorize state health officials to make vaccine recommendations via the Vermont Immunization Advisory Council.
"The Vermont Immunization Advisory Council will consider recommendations for immunizations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, as well as those published by trusted medical organizations…to formulate and publish Vermont’s vaccine recommendations in partnership with the state’s Health Commissioner," they said.
A Minnesota Department of Health spokesperson told Newsweek: "The childhood immunization schedule is based on decades of sound scientific research; to suggest otherwise is misleading and harmful.
"The Minnesota Department of Health will continue to align our immunization recommendations with those of professional medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. These immunization schedules offer clear, consistent recommendations for families."
A Washington State Department of Health spokesperson provided the following statement: "The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is aware of the Executive Order issued by the White House regarding childhood vaccine recommendations and is reviewing details of the order. In Washington, our immunization recommendations have not changed. They are guided by the best available science, informed by recommendations from trusted medical and public health experts, and aligned with the American Academy of Pediatrics."
Newsweek received similar statements from the state health departments of Michigan, California, Maryland, North Carolina, Illinois, Virginia, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
The latest move follows earlier Trump administration efforts to reshape childhood vaccine policy, including a January HHS proposal that was later halted by a federal judge, Newsweek previously reported.
How States Are Responding to Trump’s Vaccine Policies
Several Democratic-led states have moved to insulate vaccine policy from federal changes under Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii formed the West Coast Health Alliance, saying they would issue "unified, science-based vaccine recommendations" and put "science, safety, and transparency first." California Governor Gavin Newsom also signed a law allowing the state to base immunization guidance on "credible, independent medical organizations" rather than the CDC’s ACIP.
Newsom has also called the Trump administration’s January childhood vaccine schedule changes "reckless" and said they put "ideology over evidence." California later co-led a multistate lawsuit challenging the administration’s vaccine recommendations.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order in October directing state agencies to protect vaccine access, "align policies with trusted medical experts" and provide "evidence-based guidance." His administration later said federal changes did not alter Pennsylvania’s vaccine access or recommendations for children, including school requirements.
New York has also acted separately from Washington. Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order expanding vaccine access, saying that "when Washington Republicans play politics with public health, New Yorkers can still get the care they need." She later backed legislation to remove references to ACIP from parts of state law.
New York City’s health commissioner, Alister Martin, criticized Trump’s latest order directly, saying in a statement it was based "in politics and conspiracy theories" and adding that vaccination recommendations "are not set by the president."
Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced in September 2025 that the state would work to phase out all childhood vaccine mandates, CBS News reported.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Robinson and Trevor Davies.
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