Rhode Island’s vaccination requirements for children entering child care and schools have not changed, Gov. Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health said Tuesday, responding to an executive order signed by President Trump on Aug. 10 calling for fewer childhood vaccines and changes to when they are administered.
State officials said Rhode Island’s schedule is not affected by the order and that families, child care facilities and schools should continue following it. The state said there is no new evidence justifying the changes the order calls for.
“Vaccination recommendations should be based on science, not ideology,” McKee said. “No matter what is happening at the federal level, we will continue to ensure that Rhode Islanders have access to vaccines and fact-based vaccination information.”
Rhode Island’s schedule aligns with those issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, and with the position of the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, a coalition of 16 regional public health agencies.
Director of Health Dr. Jerry Larkin cited the national measles picture. “With more cases of measles across the country in 2026 than we have seen in decades, it is more important than ever that Rhode Island children be vaccinated using a schedule that is grounded in science, data, and facts,” he said.
The Northeast Public Health Collaborative issued its own statement Tuesday reaffirming its endorsement of the 2026 childhood and adolescent immunization schedules. Undermining confidence in the MMR vaccine during the largest measles outbreak in decades will lead to additional cases and potentially deaths, the group said.
State officials noted that children receive vaccines at specific ages based on when their immune systems respond best and when they are most vulnerable to particular diseases, and that delaying immunization leaves children exposed during those windows. They said there is no evidence that vaccines cause autism.
Parents with questions should speak with their child’s healthcare provider. Immunization information is available at health.ri.gov/immunization.
