CDC panel postpones decision on restricting infant hepatitis B vaccinations

During a heated session, the advisory committee for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) chose to postpone a vote concerning potential limitations on hepatitis B vaccinations for newborns. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) experienced tense exchanges before a motion to delay the decision was proposed and approved 6-3, allowing more time to review the proposals language.

In a rare move, the advisers discussed restricting access to the hepatitis B vaccine, a shot that has been safely administered for decades. No new evidence suggesting risks associated with the vaccine, which has been given to over 1.4 billion individuals worldwide, was presented. Currently, the hepatitis B vaccine is administered to all infants shortly after birth.

During the meeting, two members requested evidence of potential harm while emphasizing the vaccines benefits. The vice-chair occasionally interrupted these discussions. Several committee members, appointed by former health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., are known for long-standing anti-vaccine positions.

The delayed vote follows a pattern in which the panel has considered limiting access to other vaccines, including those for COVID-19, measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox, complicating guidance for families and healthcare providers. Kennedy has consistently advocated for postponing the infant hepatitis B vaccine. Experts warn that altering the current vaccination schedule could have serious implications for child health in the US.

Earlier this week, ACIP leadership changed: former chair Martin Kulldorff moved to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and pediatric cardiologist Kirk Milhoan, who has spoken against COVID-19 vaccines and promoted ivermectin, assumed the chair role.

Research published in 2023 indicated a 99% reduction in acute hepatitis B cases among children, adolescents, and young adults from 1990 to 2019, directly linked to infant vaccination.

In September, the panel modified vaccine policy, recommending that children receive separate vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox rather than a combined dose. The panel also declined to endorse prescription-based COVID-19 vaccination shortly afterward.

The ACIP provides recommendations to the acting CDC director, Jim ONeill. Previous director Susan Monarez was replaced after the Trump administration cited misalignment with presidential priorities. Childhood immunization rates are declining nationwide amid growing vaccine hesitancy, with 2025 seeing significant measles outbreaks across the US.

Author: Aiden Foster