Executive Order

Executive Order 14407 - Realigning United States Core Childhood Vaccine Recommendations With Best Practices From Peer, Developed Countries

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Published

May 29, 2026

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Ingested

June 29, 2026

Summary

Executive Order 14407, issued by the President, mandates the realignment of United States core childhood vaccine recommendations with best practices from peer, developed countries. Based on a scientific assessment, it directs the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to review and update the childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule, emphasizing flexibility, public trust, and protection of religious liberty and parental authority. The Order further requires federal agencies to align all related actions, regulations, and funding with the updated schedule, ensuring continued cost-free coverage for recommended immunizations.

Key provisions

Here is a detailed summary of Executive Order 14407 for policy analysts and compliance teams:

Executive Order 14407 of May 29, 2026: Realigning United States Core Childhood Vaccine Recommendations With Best Practices From Peer, Developed Countries

This Executive Order, signed by the President on May 29, 2026, and published in the Federal Register on June 3, 2026, directs a realignment of U.S. childhood vaccine recommendations.

Section 1. Purpose and Policy

Basis for the Order: The Executive Order follows a Presidential Memorandum of December 5, 2025, which initiated a scientific assessment by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This assessment compared U.S. childhood immunization recommendations with those of peer nations, analyzed vaccine uptake, public trust, clinical/epidemiological evidence, and vaccine mandates.
Key Findings of Scientific Assessment: The assessment concluded that the United States currently recommends more childhood vaccines than any peer nation, including more than twice as many doses as some European countries. It identified a set of "consensus vaccines" consistently recommended across all peer countries and noted that most peer nations achieve high vaccination rates through public trust and education rather than mandates.
Administration's Policy: The Administration is committed to ensuring Americans receive the best scientifically supported medical advice, while also protecting religious liberty and parental authority. The policy dictates that the core childhood vaccine schedule should align with scientific evidence and best practices from peer, developed countries, preserving access to existing vaccines, and upholding legal protections for religious freedom and parental rights.

Section 2. Updating the Childhood Vaccine Schedule

Guiding Resource: The scientific assessment, including its proposed updates to vaccine schedule categories, is acknowledged as a guiding resource for the Federal Government.
Directives for CDC and ACIP: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) are directed to review the scientific assessment and the latest clinical data. They must take appropriate steps, "to the extent permitted by law," to update the United States childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule. ACIP's review should specifically consider ways to provide maximum flexibility to parents and doctors regarding the timing and sequencing of routine immunizations.
Compliance Requirements for Executive Departments and Agencies: Each executive department and agency shall ensure that all actions, regulations, funding, and coverage related to child and adolescent immunizations align with the schedule recommended by ACIP and adopted by the CDC. This includes fulfilling all legal obligations concerning parental authority, religious freedom, disability accommodations, and equal protection under the law.
Insurance Coverage Mandate: Consistent with the Presidential Memorandum and scientific assessment, all immunizations on the ACIP/CDC recommended schedule should continue to be covered without cost sharing by private insurance, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Vaccines for Children Program.
State Engagement: The HHS Director of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs shall ensure State government and health officials are informed of the policies in this order and that the scientific assessment is available to them as a resource for their consideration of State vaccination laws.

Section 3. General Provisions

Limitations: This order does not impair the authority of any executive department or agency, nor the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget related to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
Implementation and Funding: The order is to be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
No Enforceable Rights: This order does not create any new rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States or its entities.
Publication Costs: The Department of Health and Human Services will bear the costs for the publication of this order.

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Section 1. Purpose and Policy

Basis for the Order: The Executive Order follows a Presidential Memorandum of December 5, 2025, which initiated a scientific assessment by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This assessment compared U.S. childhood immunization recommendations with those of peer nations, analyzed vaccine uptake, public trust, clinical/epidemiological evidence, and vaccine mandates.

Key Findings of Scientific Assessment: The assessment concluded that the United States currently recommends more childhood vaccines than any peer nation, including more than twice as many doses as some European countries. It identified a set of "consensus vaccines" consistently recommended across all peer countries and noted that most peer nations achieve high vaccination rates through public trust and education rather than mandates.

Administration's Policy: The Administration is committed to ensuring Americans receive the best scientifically supported medical advice, while also protecting religious liberty and parental authority. The policy dictates that the core childhood vaccine schedule should align with scientific evidence and best practices from peer, developed countries, preserving access to existing vaccines, and upholding legal protections for religious freedom and parental rights.

Section 2. Updating the Childhood Vaccine Schedule

Guiding Resource: The scientific assessment, including its proposed updates to vaccine schedule categories, is acknowledged as a guiding resource for the Federal Government.

Directives for CDC and ACIP: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) are directed to review the scientific assessment and the latest clinical data. They must take appropriate steps, "to the extent permitted by law," to update the United States childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule. ACIP's review should specifically consider ways to provide maximum flexibility to parents and doctors regarding the timing and sequencing of routine immunizations.

Compliance Requirements for Executive Departments and Agencies: Each executive department and agency shall ensure that all actions, regulations, funding, and coverage related to child and adolescent immunizations align with the schedule recommended by ACIP and adopted by the CDC. This includes fulfilling all legal obligations concerning parental authority, religious freedom, disability accommodations, and equal protection under the law.

Insurance Coverage Mandate: Consistent with the Presidential Memorandum and scientific assessment, all immunizations on the ACIP/CDC recommended schedule should continue to be covered without cost sharing by private insurance, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Vaccines for Children Program.

State Engagement: The HHS Director of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs shall ensure State government and health officials are informed of the policies in this order and that the scientific assessment is available to them as a resource for their consideration of State vaccination laws.

Section 3. General Provisions

Limitations: This order does not impair the authority of any executive department or agency, nor the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget related to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

Implementation and Funding: The order is to be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

No Enforceable Rights: This order does not create any new rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States or its entities.

Publication Costs: The Department of Health and Human Services will bear the costs for the publication of this order.