MEDIA STATEMENT ON TRUMP’S AUGUST 10, 2026 EXECUTIVE ORDER
Recent polling shows voters across party lines trust Louisiana doctors over politicians to make vaccine decisions for their children
Baton Rouge, La. — Aug. 11, 2026 — Yesterday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for sweeping changes to how vaccines are administered to children in the United States, including separating the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three vaccines administered at different times.
The announcement comes as measles outbreaks continue to spread across the country — and despite Louisiana voters’ support for the MMR vaccine as it is currently administered. Recent polling by conservative polling firm Cygnal found that a majority of Louisiana voters believe the MMR vaccine as currently given is safe and effective, including a plurality of Republicans.
That support is part of a broader consensus across political and geographic lines in Louisiana: childhood vaccines are important and help maintain strong families and communities in our state.
Cygnal found that 85% of Louisianans and 76% of Republicans believe vaccines and the protection they provide are important to our kids. Even a majority of voters who support the Make America Healthy Again movement in Louisiana support vaccines and reject government overreach that would make accessing them more difficult. This Executive Order does just that - spreading out vaccines that were normally administered in one visit across multiple visits means more missed work, more co-pays, and less dollars in Louisiana parents’ pocketbooks.
Louisiana voters are also clear about whom they trust to make decisions about their children’s health. When asked who they trust most on vaccine policy for their kids, federal agencies like the CDC and FDA ranked last — trailing far behind Louisiana pediatricians and doctors, whom voters trust more than four-to-one over federal regulators. That skepticism cuts across party lines.
“Louisiana families want their own doctors — not federal bureaucrats or politicians — making decisions about how and when their children get vaccinated,” said Eric Johnson, Co-Director of Louisiana Families for Vaccines. “At a time when measles is spreading across the country, making it harder for parents to get their children vaccinated is not what Louisiana families are asking for.”
Louisianans are paying attention, too. Nearly half of voters say they have heard a great deal or a good amount about the measles outbreak currently spreading across the country. This is a public health crisis for American children and voters know it.
As of Aug. 6, the United States had recorded 2,465 confirmed measles cases in 2026, with 2,449 cases reported in 47 jurisdictions including Louisiana, along with 16 cases reported by international travelers to the U.S.
Louisiana Families for Vaccines stands with the majority of Republicans, Democrats, Independents, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, neighbors, pastors, teachers, and friends who want the best for Louisiana kids. Cygnal's polling found that voters in our state want politicians focused on the cost of living, access to healthcare, public safety, and fiscal responsibility.
“Handing down vaccine recommendations from the Oval Office instead of the examination room does not meet this moment or reflect our strong Louisiana family values,” Johnson said. “Louisiana parents want to be able to sit down with the doctors they know and trust and make the best decisions for their children.”
About the Poll
Cygnal conducted the survey of 500 Louisiana voters from April 7-9, 2026. Interviews were conducted via phone call. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 4.38 percentage points. The poll was commissioned by American Families for Vaccines.
About Louisiana Families for Vaccines
Louisiana Families for Vaccines is a grassroots network of Louisianans dedicated to advocating for public health and fact-based public policy and promoting immunizations for healthier kids and communities.
Media Contact:
Eric Johnson