Doctors blast Trump for doubling down on vaccine policy modeled after Denmark

This past weekend, the American Medical Association (AMA) voiced strong opposition to an executive order signed by President Trump, which aims to adjust U.S. childhood vaccination guidelines to mirror those of Denmark. Denmark, known for its universal healthcare system and a homogenous population roughly the size of Maryland, has become a controversial model for U.S. vaccine policy. AMA President Bobby Mukkamala stated, "There is no credible scientific evidence to support such a change." He emphasized that the existing vaccination schedule is founded on extensive research and real-world data, specifically designed to safeguard American children during their most vulnerable years based on the nation's disease prevalence. The initiative to align U.S. childhood vaccination recommendations with Denmark's was initially introduced by anti-vaccine advocate and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earlier this year. If this plan is implemented, the total number of recommended immunizations would decrease from 17 to 11, eliminating vaccinations for rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B. This proposal stems from a December executive order by Trump that called for U.S. vaccine protocols to reflect the best practices of peer nations. Following this, a scientific assessment conducted by political appointees Tracy Beth Høeg, a sports medicine doctor, and Martin Kulldorff, a biostatistician—both known for their anti-vaccine stance—recommended that the U.S. should emulate Denmark's vaccine schedule. The changes were approved by Jim O’Neill, then acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), despite the lack of expertise in vaccine policy among the evaluators. However, a federal judge intervened in March, issuing a temporary injunction that reversed the modifications, citing violations of federal regulations by Kennedy in their execution. As the federal government seeks to appeal this injunction, the recent executive order reaffirms the intent to adopt Denmark’s vaccination strategy, stating that the assessment by Høeg and Kulldorff should guide federal vaccine policy. It mandates that the CDC take necessary measures to revise the U.S. childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule accordingly.