CDC advisory panel restricts hepatitis B vaccination for newborns

On Friday morning, advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted to scale back the recommendation for hepatitis B vaccinations in newborns, reflecting a significant shift in vaccine policy.

The advisory committee, which provides guidance to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., decided to remove the universal recommendation that all newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine.

For babies born to mothers who test negative for hepatitis B, the panel voted 8 to 11 in favor of giving parents the optionafter consulting with a healthcare provideron when or whether their child should receive the vaccine series. The committee suggested that if parents choose to delay the vaccination, the first dose should not be given before the child reaches two months of age.

Experts warn that this decision may lead to confusion in routine immunization schedules and create barriers for families with limited access to healthcare. Although the advisory recommendations are not legally binding, they often guide official policy and influence how both private and federal insurance programs cover vaccines.

This decision could result in more preventable infections among children, stated Michaela Jackson, program director of prevention policy at the Hepatitis B Foundation. She added that the change might complicate parental trust and access to vaccinations.

Author: Natalie Monroe