Vaccine advisers for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted on Friday to limit hepatitis B vaccines for newborns, a move that experts say could increase preventable infections and create access barriers. The panel, appointed by Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, decided to remove the longstanding recommendation that all infants receive the vaccine shortly after birth.
Under the new guidance, parents of infants whose mothers test negative for hepatitis B would decide with their doctor when – or if – the vaccine series should be given. The vote, 8-3, reclassifies the birth dose as 'shared clinical decision-making', a term usually reserved for non-routine vaccines that may signal controversy or create additional liability concerns.
Critics warn the change will add confusion and disproportionately affect lower-income families. 'This is going to lead to an increase in preventable infections among children,' said Michaela Jackson of the Hepatitis B Foundation. The vaccine remains recommended for infants of mothers who test positive for the virus.
Committee members who opposed the change argued it violates the principle of 'do no harm'. 'We are doing harm by changing this wording,' said Dr Cody Meissner of Dartmouth College. If parents cannot vaccinate at birth, the panel now suggests waiting at least two months, though some liaisons urged against restricting earlier access.
Donald Trump welcomed the move, signing a memo to review aligning recommendations with peer countries. The recommendations now go to CDC acting director Jim O’Neill for potential adoption as official US policy. Medical bodies like the American Academy of Pediatrics continue to strongly recommend the vaccine within 24 hours of birth.
