The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) has raised concerns about a new U.S. executive order that changes childhood vaccine recommendations, warning that the policy could create further confusion for families and have broader consequences for cancer patients and public health generally.
Signed by President Donald Trump on August 10, 2026, the executive order establishes what the administration calls the “Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations.” It classifies childhood immunizations into categories based on whether they are recommended for all children, for certain high-risk groups, or through shared clinical decision-making.
Under the new recommendations, immunizations protecting against 11 diseases remain recommended for all children, including the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Hepatitis B vaccination is no longer included in the universal category and is instead listed among vaccines for certain high-risk populations and shared clinical decision-making. The order also calls for the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to be offered as separate single-disease shots once such products become available domestically and recommends, where feasible, administering childhood immunizations at separate medical visits.
Following the executive order, ACS CAN issued a statement emphasizing that vaccination plays an important role not only in preventing infectious diseases but also in reducing the risk of certain cancers and in protecting people who may be particularly vulnerable to infection, including patients undergoing cancer treatment.
The organization also pointed to growing confusion surrounding vaccination decisions. According to an ACS CAN Survivor Views survey released earlier this year, nearly 1 in 6 cancer patients and survivors reported that they had delayed or skipped a recommended vaccine because of confusion related to vaccines.
Lisa Lacasse, President of ACS CAN, emphasized the importance of maintaining established childhood immunization systems and ensuring that vaccine policy remains grounded in scientific evidence.
“Preserving strong childhood immunization systems is essential to protecting public health and ensuring that progress against cancer is not undermined.”
Lacasse said ACS CAN is particularly concerned that changes to vaccine recommendations could make it more difficult for parents to determine how best to protect their children from preventable diseases, including infections associated with cancer. She highlighted the role of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B vaccines, both of which protect against infections that can lead to cancer later in life.
“Changes to the childhood vaccine recommendations could have a sweeping impact on American public health generally and on the health of patients with cancer and their families.”
ACS CAN reiterated its support for vaccine policies based on scientific evidence and aimed at reducing the cancer burden. The organization said such policies should promote access to and uptake of vaccines that prevent infections associated with cancer, support cancer treatment through immune-system approaches, and protect patients and their families by strengthening community immunity.
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