WIAAP and Immunize Wisconsin (IMWI) have issued a position statement, “Childhood Vaccination Recommendations and the August 10, 2026 Executive Order,” addressing the recent EO, “Delivering Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations for Americans.”
The executive order can be viewed here.
Download the WIAAP & IMWI Statement or read below:
Position Statement: Childhood Vaccination Recommendations and the August 10, 2026 Executive Order
August 13, 2026
The Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (WIAAP) and Immunize Wisconsin (IMWI) strongly oppose the August 10, 2026, Executive Order, Delivering Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations for Americans, and the confusion it creates for Wisconsin families.
Routine childhood immunization is one of the most effective ways to protect children from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines have dramatically reduced illnesses that once caused widespread childhood illness, disability, and death. The recommendations for when children should receive vaccines are not arbitrary. They are based on decades of research, ongoing safety monitoring, an understanding of when children’s immune systems respond best, and the ages when children are most vulnerable to specific diseases.
The science supporting routine childhood immunization remains strong. The 2026 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended schedule has not changed.
There is no new evidence demonstrating that children would be better protected by abandoning the established schedule. The AAP recommendations continue to be based on careful review of scientific evidence and the expertise of physicians and scientists whose focus is protecting children’s health.
At a time when measles cases are surging in the United States, creating additional uncertainty around childhood vaccination is particularly concerning. Children who miss or delay recommended vaccines may remain unprotected when they are exposed to highly contagious diseases. The result can be more preventable illness, more hospitalizations, and greater risk to children and communities.
Combination vaccines protect children and make vaccination easier for families.
The executive order calls for separating combination vaccines and specifically directs action toward separating the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into individual products.
There is no medical reason to administer these vaccines separately. Separating them does not make them safer or more effective. Instead, it would require children to receive more injections and require busy families to make additional visits to their providers.
The AAP continues to strongly recommend routine childhood immunizations according to its 2026 immunization recommendations. WIAAP and Immunize Wisconsin support that recommendation and reaffirm that routine childhood vaccination remains the standard of care for children in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin families deserve clear, evidence-based guidance.
We recognize that parents have questions about vaccines. Questions are welcome, and conversations between families and their children’s health care professionals are an important part of pediatric care.
Pediatricians and other health care professionals have specialized training and knowledge to help families understand the benefits and risks of vaccination and make informed decisions about their children’s health. We encourage Wisconsin parents and caregivers with questions about immunizations to talk with their child’s pediatrician or other trusted health care professional.
WIAAP and IMWI remain committed to protecting Wisconsin’s children from vaccine preventable diseases and to supporting families with accurate, evidence-based information.
The bottom line is simple: the science has not changed. The 2026 AAP childhood immunization recommendations remain in place, and routine vaccination remains an essential part of protecting children and communities.
Wisconsin children deserve health care decisions grounded in evidence—not confusion, misinformation, or political posturing.
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