US Hepatitis B Vaccine Policy Shift

A federal vaccine advisory committee, whose members were appointed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted to end the longstanding recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth for all U.S. babies. The United States — Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices now recommends the birth dose only for infants whose mothers test positive for hepatitis B or were not tested during pregnancy. For other babies, the decision rests with parents and doctors, with the vaccination series suggested to begin at 2 months of age if the birth dose is declined. This decision marks a return to a public health strategy abandoned over three decades ago and has drawn widespread condemnation from medical and public health leaders, including William Schaffner and Peter Hotez, who argue it departs from science-based medicine. Committee members like Joseph Hibbeln and Cody Meissner voiced strong opposition, while others cited 'pressure from stakeholder groups' for the reexamination. The acting director of the United States — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Jim O'Neill, is expected to decide whether to accept the recommendation, which historically has been adopted by the agency. Critics, such as Elizabeth Jacobs and Bill Cassidy, have described the committee's actions as an 'epidemiological crime scene' and a 'mistake' that 'makes America sicker.'