Federal Advisory Panel Alters Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendations

A federal advisory group has voted 8-3 to revise the longstanding guideline that all newborns in the U.S. should receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. This new recommendation will only apply to infants born to mothers who test positive for the virus or who have not been tested during pregnancy. For other newborns, the decision about vaccination is now up to parents and healthcare providers, with the option to start immunization at two months instead.

Health professionals are expressing significant concern, suggesting that this change could undermine decades of progress in controlling hepatitis B, a virus that can lead to severe health issues such as liver failure and cancer. Critics argue that the committee's decision disregards robust scientific evidence advocating for immediate vaccination at birth. The final decision will rest with the acting director of the CDC, following this controversial vote, which has sparked debate over the committee's shift away from evidence-based practices in favor of individual perspectives.