In a significant shift to US public health policy, a key advisory committee has voted to end the decades-old recommendation that all newborns receive a Hepatitis B vaccination within 24 hours of birth.
A Landmark Vote and Presidential Backing
The decision was made by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which voted eight to three on Friday to amend its guidance. The move was immediately celebrated by former President Donald Trump, who issued a statement on his Truth Social platform.
Trump claimed the committee had made a "very good decision" to end the recommendation for babies, arguing the vast majority are at "NO RISK" of a virus he described as being mostly transmitted sexually or through contaminated needles. He criticised the American childhood vaccine schedule as requiring 72 "jabs" for healthy infants, calling it "ridiculous" and excessive compared to other nations.
New Guidance and a Fast-Tracked Review
Under the new, non-binding guidance, for infants born to mothers who have tested negative for Hepatitis B, the committee now recommends individual decision-making in consultation with a healthcare provider. Parents and doctors are advised to weigh vaccine benefits against risks and the risk of infection.
The panel also suggested that for those not receiving the birth dose, the initial vaccine should not be given earlier than two months of age. Crucially, the committee still recommends that newborns of Hepatitis B-positive mothers receive the vaccine at birth.
Concurrently, Trump announced he had signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to "FAST TRACK" a comprehensive evaluation of vaccine schedules from other countries. The aim is to better align the US schedule with international norms, which Trump stated should be rooted in "the Gold Standard of Science and COMMON SENSE."
He expressed confidence that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the CDC would execute this review swiftly and correctly.
Controversy and Historical Context
The vote was not unanimous and faced opposition from within the committee. Among the three dissenting voters was Dr H. Cody Meissner, one of the panel's two paediatricians, who warned during the vote that the committee was "doing harm" by altering the long-standing recommendation.
The US has recommended universal Hepatitis B vaccination for newborns since 1991, using a three-dose regimen. Research indicates the vaccine is up to 90% effective at preventing mother-to-child transmission if the first dose is given within 24 hours of birth. In infants who contract the virus, up to 90% develop chronic Hepatitis B, which can lead to severe liver complications, including cancer, later in life.
The committee's guidance, while not mandatory, historically carries substantial weight and is typically adopted by medical practitioners and institutions across the country.
