A key advisory panel for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has formally rejected a claim made by independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr regarding the Hepatitis B vaccine. The panel found no evidence to support Kennedy's assertion that the vaccine could cause the very disease it is designed to prevent.
Scientific Review Debunks Controversial Claim
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) conducted a review during its meeting on Thursday, 5 December 2025. This review was prompted by a formal request from Kennedy's campaign, which had cited a 2021 study to argue that the Hepatitis B vaccine might be linked to liver inflammation and disease.
The committee, composed of independent medical and public health experts, scrutinised the available scientific data. Dr Sarah Meyer, a CDC official presenting the findings, stated unequivocally that "the totality of evidence does not support a causal relationship" between the Hepatitis B vaccine and liver disease. The panel concluded that the benefits of the vaccine in preventing a serious infection far outweigh any unproven risks.
Political Context and Public Health Implications
Robert F. Kennedy Jr, running as an independent, has long been a prominent figure in the anti-vaccine movement. His campaign had leveraged the 2021 study, alongside a 2018 petition, to challenge the CDC's recommended vaccine schedule for newborns. The ACIP's swift and definitive rebuttal highlights the ongoing tension between public health authority and vaccine scepticism in the American political landscape.
The Hepatitis B vaccine is routinely given to infants in the United States shortly after birth. The CDC and global health authorities consider it a cornerstone of preventive medicine, crucial for stopping a virus that can lead to chronic liver conditions, including cirrhosis and cancer.
The committee's review process was noted to be unusually public and prompt, reflecting the high-profile nature of the challenge. Officials emphasised that the vaccine's safety profile is continuously monitored through robust systems like the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
Expert Consensus and Moving Forward
In dismissing the claim, the CDC panel reinforced the overwhelming scientific consensus on vaccine safety. The 2021 study cited by Kennedy's team was found to have significant methodological limitations and its findings have not been replicated in broader, more rigorous research.
Public health leaders express concern that such claims, even when debunked, can erode public trust and lead to drops in vaccination coverage. The CDC maintains its recommendation that all newborns receive the Hepatitis B vaccine within their first 24 hours of life. This policy is credited with dramatically reducing Hepatitis B infection rates in children in the United States over recent decades.
The ACIP's statement serves as a firm defence of evidence-based immunisation policy. It underscores the committee's role in evaluating all safety concerns, while also demonstrating its readiness to address high-profile challenges that arise in the political arena.
