Shot/Reverse Shot

President Trump signed an executive order overhauling childhood vaccine schedules on Monday.

After a federal court blocked an earlier attempt to shift shot schedules in March, the new order cuts recommended shots from 18 diseases to 11 and splits the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate shots. (See the new schedule here.) POTUS said the changes address “an increase in autism diagnoses” connected to “rising rates of childhood shots,” while leaving vaccine decisions “to the parents.”

Some doctors had a second opinion. The American Academy of Pediatrics says 40+ studies found “unequivocally” no vaccine-autism link, and Senator-with-an-MD Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said #47 “does not have the expertise to make these changes.” As the U.S. faces its worst measles outbreak since 2000, experts fear splitting MMR produces vulnerability windows, and requiring multiple a-poke-ments creates barriers for low-income families.

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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
While debates about vaccines can stir up strong emotions and fear, Christians should be known by our faithfulness to serve our ill or healthy neighbors, not by the strength of our political stances.

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 (CSB) (read full passage)