"Does It Really Cause Autism?" Anxious Parents and 'Vaccine Conspiracy Theories' Shaking Public Health

1. Key Details of Trump's Executive Order

On August 10, President Trump signed an executive order in the Oval Office as Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. looked on. The order reduces the list of diseases against which children are recommended to be vaccinated from 18 to 11, removing vaccines such as hepatitis, COVID-19, and flu from the "recommended for all children" category. At the same time, it recommended that the combination MMR vaccine be divided into three single-agent vaccines administered in separate doctor visits. Prior to this action, a court had blocked Secretary Kennedy's attempt to alter the existing schedule, and the executive order is likely to face legal challenges.

2. "Can Be Quite Lethal" — Trump's Unfounded Claim

Regarding the reason for splitting the combination MMR vaccine, Trump said, "When they're given together, it can be quite lethal, and when given separately, it doesn't seem to be lethal at all." When a reporter asked for evidence, he replied, "Some people say that." According to the U.S. FDA, a single dose of the MMR vaccine is 0.5 milliliters, and the CDC states that the vaccine is "very safe."

3. Why Splitting MMR Vaccines Is Problematic

The CDC explicitly states there is no scientific evidence showing any benefit to receiving the MMR combination vaccine as three separate shots. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) projects that developing separate single vaccines would take 10 years, and individual vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella currently do not exist in the United States. Experts point out that widening the interval between vaccinations increases the risk of a child catching a disease during that time, while requiring multiple hospital visits increases the likelihood of missed vaccinations. Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine said, "It makes it harder for parents and healthcare providers to track schedules and increases costs, with absolutely no scientific benefit."

4. Pushback from the Medical Community

American Academy of Pediatrics President Dr. Andrew Racine criticized Trump's executive order as "dangerous," saying it is "not based on the highest-quality science." "Delaying or skipping vaccinations is dangerous, especially at a time when measles continues to spread and children are heading back to school." Vaccine manufacturer Merck also warned, "There is no published scientific evidence demonstrating a benefit to splitting the MMR vaccine, and requiring multiple doctor visits increases the risk of delayed or missed immunizations."

5. Criticism from Within the Republican Party

Republican Senator and physician Bill Cassidy directly criticized the order, stating, "This executive order is wrong. The president lacks the expertise to make these changes. Vaccines are overwhelmingly safe and effective and do not cause autism." Cassidy's remarks drew particular attention as he had cast a crucial vote in favor of Secretary Kennedy's Senate confirmation. Secretary Kennedy emphasized, "I have never questioned the efficacy of the MMR vaccine," adding, "We are trying to give parents a choice, not ban vaccinations."

6. Vaccine-Autism Link: What Science Says

Decades of research have established that there is no link between vaccines and autism. A large-scale Danish study published in 2019 tracked more than 657,000 children and found no evidence that the MMR vaccine causes or triggers autism. Trump claimed that the current autism rate in the U.S. (1 in 31 children) is likely due to the number of vaccines children receive in their first year of life, but this contradicts decades of scientific research.

7. Demand for Aluminum Alternatives

The executive order also called for the development of alternatives to aluminum in vaccines. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics states there is no evidence that trace amounts of aluminum salts in vaccines pose significant health risks. Aluminum salts occur naturally in soil, water, and food, and have been used in vaccines for decades. They also serve to boost the immune response, allowing vaccines to be effective with smaller doses.

8. Warnings from International Health Agencies

Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection warned, "Altering vaccination schedules without reliable scientific data or medical research could pose serious and irreversible public health risks to children." WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic stated, "Vaccination recommendations are based on more than 60 years of research by the WHO, national authorities, and independent expert groups. What we produce is grounded in science, and we hope all countries use the best scientific evidence."

9. The Reality of the 2026 Measles Crisis

As of July 2026, the number of confirmed measles cases in the United States stands at 2,318, higher than in any single year since measles was declared eliminated in 2000. The year 2025 was already a record-breaking year with 2,289 cases, but 2026 has already surpassed it. More than 93% of those infected were unvaccinated. Under these circumstances, concerns are growing that an executive order adding complexity to the MMR vaccination schedule could deepen delays and missed shots.

10. The Connection to South Korea: Risk of Importation and Misinformation Spread

The surge in measles cases in the United States is also relevant to South Korea. Given the annual volume of air travel between South Korea and the U.S., falling vaccination rates in America could translate into an increased risk of imported measles cases in Korea. In fact, during the 2019 measles outbreaks in the U.S. and Europe, a series of imported cases was reported in South Korea. Another danger is the spread of misinformation. Remarks by Trump and Kennedy tend to be quickly translated and shared across Korean YouTube channels and online communities; during the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-vaccine misinformation originating from the U.S. similarly fueled vaccine hesitancy domestically. South Korea's MMR vaccination rate currently stands at 97 to 98%, among the highest in the world, and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has no plans to alter its national immunization schedule, which is based on WHO recommendations and local epidemiological data. However, the situation in the U.S. serves as a precedent showing how quickly a public health system can backtrack due to political will alone.

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Trump's executive order on vaccines directly conflicts with scientific consensus. While framed around "giving parents a choice," the medical community warns that this choice could lead to a resurgence of preventable diseases like measles. With the worst measles outbreak in 35 years underway, the impact of this executive order on the health of American children will manifest in data within months—data that the entire world, including South Korea, will need to watch closely.


Deep Dive Q&A
Q1. Why is it difficult to actually implement splitting the MMR vaccine into three individual shots?

A. Individual vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella currently do not exist in the United States. To produce single-agent vaccines, pharmaceutical companies would need to conduct new clinical trials, a process the American Academy of Pediatrics estimates would take 10 years. The CDC also explicitly states that there is no scientific evidence of any benefit to receiving individual shots instead of the combination vaccine. In short, the executive order demands products that do not even exist.

Q2. Where did the claim linking vaccines to autism originate?

A. In 1998, British doctor Andrew Wakefield published a paper claiming a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. However, after data falsification was uncovered, his medical license was revoked in 2010 and the paper was retracted. Dozens of large-scale studies since then have repeatedly confirmed no connection exists, most notably a 2019 Danish study tracking 657,000 children. The reason this unfounded claim continues to resurface is that it serves as a powerful narrative exploiting parental anxiety—a pattern also observed in South Korea during the COVID-19 vaccine controversy.

Q3. Could the measles situation in the U.S. directly impact South Korea?

A. Yes, it is possible. Measles is a highly contagious virus; if vaccination rates drop below 95%, herd immunity breaks down, allowing a single imported case to lead to community transmission. Korea's vaccination rate of 97 to 98% keeps it currently in a safe zone, but if imported U.S. cases rise and vaccine hesitancy spreads domestically, that defense could weaken. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) maintains fever screening for arriving travelers and a reporting system for suspected measles cases, advising anyone returning from travel to the U.S. who experiences fever or rashes to report immediately.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.