A US vaccine advisory panel appointed by Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has scrapped a planned vote that would have delayed the first hepatitis B vaccine dose for newborns, citing inconsistencies in the proposed policy changes.
The committee, which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccination schedules, had discussed altering the long-standing recommendation that babies receive the shot at birth. While many members initially supported the change, concerns were raised during a public comment period that it could leave infants vulnerable to the disease.
On Friday, some committee members questioned the data presented by the CDC and sought to extend the proposed delay from one month to two or three months. It remains unclear how the panel will proceed on the issue.
Dr Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease epidemiologist at UTHealth Houston, noted that the current birth-dose policy has driven a 97% decline in acute hepatitis B among Americans under 19. Pediatrician Dr Cody Meissner warned that delaying the dose could increase the risk of harm without evidence of benefit, adding that the protective benefits far outweigh any possible risks.
The panel did vote unanimously to recommend universal hepatitis B testing for all pregnant women. The meeting will also consider updates to Covid-19 vaccine guidance. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has been reconstituted by Kennedy and includes members who have previously raised concerns about routine vaccines.
