NEW YORK (AP) — A federal vaccine advisory committee voted Friday to end a longstanding recommendation that all U.S. babies get the hepatitis B vaccine on the day they’re born. For decades, the government has advised that all babies be vaccinated against the liver infection right after birth, which has been a significant public health success for preventing thousands of cases. However, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s committee has recommended that the birth dose be limited to infants whose mothers test positive or whose infection status is unknown, leaving it to parents and physicians to decide for other newborns. The shift in guidelines has sparked concern among many medical professionals who are worried that this could lead to higher rates of infections. The acting director of the CDC, Jim O’Neill, is anticipated to make a decision later regarding the acceptance of this new recommendation.
Significant Change in Hepatitis B Vaccination Guidelines for Newborns
Significant Change in Hepatitis B Vaccination Guidelines for Newborns
The U.S. federal vaccine advisory committee has voted to modify the recommendation for administering the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, sparking debate among health professionals and parents.
In a surprising decision, a federal vaccine advisory committee has voted to no longer recommend that all U.S. newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine immediately after birth. This change will allow parents and doctors to determine the necessity of the vaccine based on the mother's hepatitis status. The decision has raised concerns among medical professionals about potential increases in hepatitis B infections among children.
