A significant shift in American vaccination policy is underway after a federal advisory committee voted to rescind a decades-long recommendation for universal hepatitis B immunisation at birth.
Committee Votes for Targeted Approach
On Friday, 5th December 2025, the committee appointed by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. decided to end the longstanding public health guidance. The previous policy advised that all babies in the United States receive the hepatitis B vaccine on the day they are born. The panel now recommends the birth dose only for infants whose mothers have tested positive for the virus or whose infection status remains unknown.
This marks a return to a strategy abandoned more than thirty years ago. The hepatitis B vaccine has been widely credited as a public health success story, credited with preventing thousands of serious liver illnesses across the population.
Medical Community Voices Strong Opposition
The decision has been met with immediate and forceful criticism from a broad coalition of medical and public health experts. They argue that the universal birth dose has been a cornerstone in effectively controlling the spread of the virus, which can be transmitted from mother to child during delivery.
By moving to a targeted approach, critics fear that some infants at risk may slip through the net, potentially leading to preventable infections. The loud chorus of disapproval underscores a deep concern that this policy reversal could undermine decades of progress in eliminating hepatitis B as a public health threat.
Context of Broader Health and Immigration News
The vaccine news emerged amid a flurry of other developments from Washington. Democrats are pushing for the release of video footage related to US military strikes on drug-running boats in the Caribbean, which they allege shows evidence of war crimes. The death toll from these operations has reached at least 87.
In a contrasting move on immigration, the Trump administration has instructed embassies to prioritise visa applications for foreign investors and 2026 World Cup ticket holders. This creates a mixed message alongside President Trump's expanding immigration crackdown, which was highlighted by harsh rhetoric targeting immigrants from specific nations during a recent cabinet meeting.
Furthermore, the White House released a new "America First" national security strategy that criticises European allies, and the Supreme Court allowed Texas to use a GOP-favoured redistricting map for the upcoming elections.
