Hepatitis B is a serious viral infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) that inflames the liver and can range from acute to chronic.

By Joe Lombardi From Daily Voice

The CDC’s top vaccine advisory panel has voted to end the long-standing recommendation that all newborns receive a hepatitis B shot within 24 hours of birth if their mothers test negative for the virus.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 8-3 on Friday morning, Dec. 5, to shift to a “shared decision-making” approach. 

Under the new guidance, parents should consult with healthcare providers about whether and when to give the hepatitis B vaccine, with the first dose — if chosen — now recommended no earlier than 2 months of age.

The vote followed a tense two-day meeting marked by confusion over voting language and technical problems. ACIP members, appointed by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., debated after reviewing data on hepatitis B transmission, infection rates, and vaccine safety.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

US Department of Health and Human Services

Dissenters, including pediatric experts, argued the move ignores decades of evidence showing the birth dose’s safety and effectiveness. 

Hepatitis B spreads through blood or other bodily fluids and can cause chronic infection in 90 percent of infected infants, often leading to liver cancer, cirrhosis, or early death. 

Medical groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly opposed the change, warning it puts newborns at risk despite the vaccine’s proven record.

The panel cited no new studies or safety concerns, but pointed to a lack of recent policy review, parental concerns, and European practices that delay the first dose. Some panelists questioned the vaccine’s long-term safety data for newborns, despite CDC analyses showing no increased risk of death, fever, or neurological issues.

The new recommendation still awaits approval from the CDC director and could affect insurance coverage and state vaccination policies.

Check back to Daily Voice for updates.