A controversial advisory panel appointed by US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is poised to vote on a move that could delay a life-saving vaccine dose for newborn babies, sparking alarm among medical professionals.
Panel Vote Sparks Public Health Concerns
The committee, which replaced a previous 17-member expert panel, is scheduled to hold its crucial vote on 4 December 2025. Kennedy, a long-time vaccine sceptic, has populated the new group with several prominent anti-vaccine voices. This shift has raised significant concerns that the meeting could become a platform for misinformation, potentially misleading parents about the safety and necessity of the hepatitis B vaccine for infants.
The Critical Importance of the Birth Dose
Medical experts are urgently emphasising the vital role of the hepatitis B vaccine administered within the first day of life. Hepatitis B is a highly contagious virus that attacks the liver and can lead to severe, lifelong complications, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. The vaccine is approximately 90 percent effective when given within 24 hours of birth. This immediate dose is crucial because it protects babies from infection transmitted during childbirth.
Paediatricians and infectious disease specialists warn that any delay in administering this first dose could have dire consequences. If a newborn becomes infected, the virus can quickly become established in the liver. This early establishment often leads to a chronic infection, which carries a much higher risk of severe liver disease later in life.
Potential Fallout from Misinformation
The core fear within the public health community is that the panel's discussions and potential recommendations will be misinterpreted or weaponised to suggest the vaccine is harmful. Such misinformation could erode public trust and lead parents to refuse or postpone this critical immunisation for their newborns. The report indicates this is part of a broader review by Kennedy's panel into the timing of several childhood vaccines, with the hepatitis B birth dose being a primary focus.
Health authorities in the UK and globally have long-standing, evidence-based policies supporting the immediate vaccination of newborns against hepatitis B for at-risk groups, highlighting its proven safety and efficacy record over decades.
