They were infected with hepatitis before receiving the birth vaccine - now the vaccination schedule may be postponed once more

At 16, John Ellis began experiencing persistent stomach pain that led to an unexpected diagnosis: hepatitis B. Despite his mothers 30 years of nursing experience, the result came as a shock. Born in 1990, a year before the United States began administering hepatitis B vaccines universally at birth, Ellis had contracted the virus prior to receiving his first vaccine at age 12.

"It was shocking for both me and my mom," Ellis recalled. "Being a teenager navigating a chronic illness that few people understand was very challenging."

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is now considering delaying the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns. The panel is scheduled to vote on the proposal later this week. Public health experts warn that such a change could increase the risk of infection in children, undoing decades of progress.

Claudia Hawkins, director of the Center for Global Communicable and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University, emphasized the risks: "Even a two-month delay in vaccination can lead to hundreds of additional deaths from liver disease and liver cancer as children grow."

Since its introduction in 1991, the hepatitis B vaccine has reduced childhood infections by 95% and prevented approximately 90,000 deaths. Hepatitis B is transmitted through bodily fluids and can cause severe liver conditions, including cancer, liver failure, and cirrhosis. Pregnant individuals with hepatitis B may pass the virus to their newborns, resulting in chronic infections.

Phil Shins experience highlights the viruss stealthy progression. Diagnosed before middle school, he later discovered that his siblings and mother were also infected. Shin remained symptom-free until 48, when a large liver tumor led to emergency surgery and eventually a life-saving transplant. "Those months of uncertainty were emotionally exhausting," he said.

Others, like Helen Ouyang, have experienced tragic losses. Her father showed only mild fatigue before being diagnosed with end-stage liver cancer caused by hepatitis B. He died within three days, leaving a lasting impact on Ouyang, now a physician.

For those living with hepatitis B, managing the disease can be complex. Ellis has controlled his condition with medication, but the stigma and fear of transmission remain challenging. Dr. Hawkins notes that social isolation and anxiety are common among patients. Misconceptions about the virus persist; many assume it is contracted only through unsafe sex or drug use, when in fact it can be passed from parent to child.

Critics of the potential vaccination delay argue it could put children at unnecessary risk. In June, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, replaced ACIP members with new appointees, several of whom have questioned vaccine safety. During a recent committee meeting, members expressed concern about administering the vaccine at birth without explicit parental consent.

Health experts caution that delaying universal vaccination could lead to lower coverage, missed early protection, and greater exposure to the virus. Testing only mothers with known infection is not considered safe, as false negatives and limited access to care could leave infants vulnerable.

Ellis sees the potential policy shift as alarming. "I am living proof of what can happen," he said. "I received the vaccine later in life and still contracted hepatitis B."

Author: Gavin Porter