Health Officer Clarifies Vaccine Safety Amid Executive Order

Every factual claim below was checked against the original public record. Source: original document ↗

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  Dr. Herbie Duber is the Kitsap Public Health District health officer“Dr. Herbie Duber is the health officer for Kitsap Public Health District.”
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  Dr. Herbie Duber clarified that recommended childhood vaccines remain safe and unchanged“Recommended childhood vaccines are safe and save lives. Each of the vaccines recommended for children in the United States was approved after intense review and testing. Even after a vaccine is approved for use, it continues to be monitored for safety through many independent surveillance systems, including the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Decades of data, from millions of children, show that routine childhood vaccines are safe and that serious side effects are extremely rare. Recommended childhood vaccines help protect kids against 16 diseases that can be serious, and in some cases fatal. ... Childhood vaccine recommendations haven’t changed. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reviews the science, safety data, and disease trends in the United States every year and publishes an evidence-based schedule of recommended vaccines for kids. For 2026, the AAP continues to recommend a proven set of childhood vaccines, including the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, and immunizations against RSV, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, influenza, and meningococcal disease. These recommendations didn't change because the science didn't change.”
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  A recent White House executive order was issued“At the end of the day, I believe we all want the same things for our children. We want them to grow and learn; to enjoy being kids; and more than anything, to live healthy and happy lives.With that in mind, it was disheartening that the White House chose to issue an executive order this week that will cause unnecessary uncertainty around routine childhood vaccination.”
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  Dr. Herbie Duber described the executive order as reviving disproven theories“This executive order, however, is not based on any new or emerging science. In fact, it revives old theories that have been examined and disproven.”
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  The executive order does not alter the American Academy of Pediatrics' 2026 vaccine recommendations“For 2026, the AAP continues to recommend a proven set of childhood vaccines, including the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, and immunizations against RSV, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, influenza, and meningococcal disease. These recommendations didn't change because the science didn't change.”
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  Dr. Herbie Duber emphasized that vaccines prevent 16 serious diseases“Recommended childhood vaccines help protect kids against 16 diseases that can be serious, and in some cases fatal.”
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  Routine vaccination prevented over 1.1 million child deaths in the U.S. between 1994 and 2023“The CDC estimates that routine vaccination prevented more than 1.1 million child deaths in the United States between 1994 and 2023. That’s about 40,000 deaths prevented every year— kids who grew up, went to school, and got to be kids, because they were protected.”
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  Vaccine requirements for Washington schools and childcare remain unchanged“Vaccine requirements for school and childcare in Washington haven’t changed.”
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  The Washington State Department of Health provides current vaccine schedules for children's age and grade levels“You can check the Washington State Department of Health website for the current list of required vaccines for your child's age and grade.”