The Washtenaw County Health Department is holding its annual Back-to-School Vaccine and Lead Testing Clinic on Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 555 Towner St. in Ypsilanti, just two days after President Trump signed an executive order trimming the recommended childhood vaccine list.
The department won't be following the new federal guidance.
Spokesperson Beth Ann Hamilton told WEMU on Tuesday, Aug. 11, that the health department will continue using the evidence-based immunization schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which covers 18 diseases rather than the 11 in the executive order.
"There's really nothing scientific prompting this, and, in fact, it's really contrary to the decades of scientific evidence that we have on vaccine safety and efficacy," Hamilton said.
What the executive order does
Trump signed the order, titled "Delivering Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations for Americans," on Monday, Aug. 10. It moves seven diseases from the routine childhood vaccine list to a "shared clinical decision-making" category left to parents and doctors. It also calls for splitting the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate shots given at separate visits, though standalone versions of those vaccines are not currently available in the United States.
The practical effect may be limited in the near term. A federal judge in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts already stayed a similar rollback attempt by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on March 16, and insurance coverage for childhood vaccines is not expected to change, according to CNN.
Local context
The executive order lands as the U.S. experiences its worst year for measles cases in decades, reaching a 35-year high. Washtenaw County has felt that strain directly. In April, the health department reported expending significant resources to contain measles spread locally, straining daily operations and increasing costs, according to WEMU's earlier reporting.
Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, warned in a statement Aug. 10 that the order would drive unnecessary confusion and fear among families considering vaccinations for their children.
What families need to know
Wednesday's clinic at 555 Towner St. in Ypsilanti offers both vaccinations and lead testing for children heading back to school. Families can find more information about available vaccines and school health requirements at washtenaw.org/immunizations.
The health department has not announced additional clinic dates.
