CDC leader supports separating MMR vaccine after Trump comments

• Source: www.cbsnews.com

Jim O’Neil, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and deputy health secretary, said this week that he supports examining the possibility of offering separate measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR vaccine ). His remarks followed from President Donald Trump comments , who has called for the MMR vaccine to be given as three individual shots rather than one combined dose.

In a post on Truth Social, later shared on X, Trump wrote: “BREAK UP THE MMR SHOT INTO THREE TOTALLY SEPARATE SHOTS (NOT MIXED!), TAKE CHICKEN P SHOT SEPARATELY, TAKE HEPATITAS [sic] B SHOT AT 12 YEARS OLD, OR OLDER, AND, IMPORTANTLY, TAKE VACCINE IN FIVE SEPARATE MEDICAL VISITS!”

Responding online, O’Neil said he supports further discussion on the development of “safe monovalent vaccines” and referenced the president’s comments on separating the MMR shot.

Trump made similar statements during a press conference last month, where he also suggested giving the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine separately, with the latter delayed until age 12 or older.

CDC maintains combined vaccine guidance

According to CDC guidance, the combined MMR vaccine remains the standard immunization used in the United States. The vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1971 and has been widely used since. The agency states that giving the vaccines together ensures earlier protection, requires fewer medical visits, and reduces the chance of missed doses.

The CDC notes there is no published scientific evidence showing that separating the three vaccines provides additional safety or health benefits. “Administering the combined MMR vaccine protects against all three diseases with a single injection,” the agency’s website states.

The CDC also says that splitting the vaccine into three doses would likely require changes to manufacturing, distribution, and scheduling, potentially increasing costs and logistical complexity for healthcare providers.

Panel reviews vaccine combinations

Earlier this year, a CDC vaccines advisory panel voted to no longer recommend the combined MMR and varicella vaccine (MMRV) for children aged four years and under. The panel advised that the MMR vaccine and varicella vaccines be administered separately, citing studies showing a slightly higher risk of febrile seizures in children receiving the combined shot as their first dose.

However, public health researchers have noted that the overall risk remains low. Peer-reviewed studies published in journals such as Pediatrics and Vaccine indicate that both combined and separate versions of the MMR and varicella vaccines are safe and effective in preventing illness.

Medical experts weigh both options

Some medical professionals argue that offering separate doses could give parents more flexibility while maintaining immunization schedules. Others emphasize that the combined MMR vaccine has a well-documented safety record spanning more than five decades.

Dr. Karen Lewis, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, said that separating the shots “would not likely change safety outcomes, but could lead to lower vaccination rates if additional appointments are missed.”

As of now, separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines are not available in the U.S. market. The CDC continues to recommend the combined MMR vaccine as the standard approach, while discussion over the feasibility of separate doses continues among public health officials and policymakers.

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