CDC panel votes to revoke universal recommendation for hepatitis B birth dose vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions vaccine advisory group voted 8-3 on Friday to discontinue the universal recommendation for administering the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. Instead, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will tailor guidance based on the mothers hepatitis B testing results.

Under the new approach, if a mother tests negative for hepatitis B, parents, in consultation with their healthcare provider, can decide whether their newborn should receive the vaccine. This strategy is being called individual-based decision-making, according to ACIPs official voting document.

The updated guidance also states that infants who skip the birth dose should receive their first hepatitis B shot no earlier than two months of age. Importantly, the recommendation remains unchanged for babies born to mothers who test positive or whose status is unknown these infants should still be vaccinated at birth.

Additionally, the ACIP document advises parents and healthcare providers to weigh specific risk factors, such as living with a hepatitis B-positive individual or frequent contact with people from regions with high hepatitis B prevalence.

In a separate vote, the committee approved, 6-4 with one abstention, that parents of older children should discuss hepatitis B antibody testing with their doctor before considering additional doses. This testing would assess whether the child has reached a sufficient antibody level and is expected to be covered by insurance.

The CDCs acting director, Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim ONeill, is anticipated to approve these changes.

Author: Gavin Porter