Former President Donald Trump has proposed splitting the combined MMR vaccine into individual shots for measles, mumps, and rubella. Medical professionals and immunologists strongly oppose this idea, saying there is no valid scientific basis for changing how the vaccine is currently administered. The combination MMR vaccine has been used in the United States for over fifty years without issue.
Merck, the company that originally developed the combined MMR vaccine, stopped producing single vaccines against these diseases in the U.S. in 2008. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supports the current approach to vaccination. Experts say there is no evidence that separate shots are needed.
Dr. Rasmussen said the idea behind splitting the vaccine is not supported by science, according to wcvb.com. She described the proposal as foolish and noted that the current vaccination schedule is carefully reviewed and updated based on research. Every vaccine goes through a full review process before being added to the recommended schedule, which can take months. If safety concerns arise or if a new population is being vaccinated, additional studies are conducted to ensure safety. Rasmussen added that such changes often play on people’s emotions rather than scientific facts.
In 2025, three deaths were confirmed to be linked to measles, and all involved individuals who had not been vaccinated. One expert pointed out that while personal choice in vaccination may seem reasonable, it has broader consequences for public health.
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