Vaccine debate heats up as officials consider splitting combined MMR into single doses

A senior health official has suggested scrapping the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

In response to President Donald Trump’s recent statement warning about the use of Tylenol by pregnant women, Health and Human Services (HHS) Undersecretary Jim O’Neill wrote the following in an October 6 post on X.

“I call on vaccine manufacturers to develop safe monovalent vaccines to replace the combined MMR and split the MMR vaccine into three completely separate injections.”

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This request follows the CDC’s recent withdrawal of COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, as the agency noted that it should be an individualized decision with a healthcare provider in accordance with the HHS Vaccine Advisory Panel.

An HHS spokesperson provided the following statement to News Digital.

“Deputy Secretary O’Neill agrees with President Trump that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines would best be administered as three separate vaccines. Stand-alone vaccines can potentially reduce the risk of side effects and maximize parental choice in childhood vaccines.”

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HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently linked vaccines to autism in a broader effort to overhaul vaccine schedules and requirements in the U.S.

In a statement sent to News Digital, vaccine maker MMR and biopharmaceutical company Merck responded to O’Neill’s call.

“There are no monovalent single-antigen measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines approved in the United States.”

“There is no published scientific evidence demonstrating any benefit from separating the combined MMR vaccine into three individual injections,” the company wrote.

“Use of the individual components of combination vaccines increases the number of injections for the individual and may result in delays or missed vaccinations.”

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Merck added that the development of MMR II, Merck’s version of the vaccine, was based on input from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), professional societies, scientific leaders and customers to meet the “medical and public health need for vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella.”

“Evidence suggests that the use of combination vaccines improves childhood vaccination outcomes, increasing both completion (receiving all recommended doses) and compliance (age-appropriate administration) rates,” they said.

“There are no monovalent single-antigen measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines approved in the United States.”

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News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel agreed that the MMR vaccine should not be separated.

“The MMR vaccine should not be separated because it has been tested this way for decades and has been shown to be completely safe and effective,” he said in an interview with News Digital. “There would be a compliance issue if we split up.”

Siegel noted that all three viruses are “highly contagious,” although measles has been more prominent in recent outbreaks. In 2025, measles cases increased across the United States, primarily infecting unvaccinated children.

“We have seen more measles here this year than in the last 30 years due to non-compliance with the vaccine,” the doctor said. “Rubella during pregnancy causes hearing loss and birth defects, and mumps threatens fertility.”

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Siegel added: “We need to encourage compliance because these viruses are very contagious and the vaccine is very effective.”

News Digital has reached out to HHS for comment.