The vaccine advisory panel at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has voted to stop recommending universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns, signaling another major shift in the nation's vaccine policy.

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices makes recommendations to federal health officials about which vaccines Americans should get and when. Its recommendation goes to the CDC director for endorsement, after which it becomes part of official agency guidance.

On Dec. 5, the committee pivoted from a recommendation made more than 30 years ago that all babies be vaccinated for hepatitis B at birth. It recommended instead that for babies born to women who have tested negative for the virus, parents can consult with their doctor about when to give the vaccin

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