CDC advisers could reverse newborn hepatitis B vaccine recommendations
A critical decision lies ahead for a group of advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as they prepare to vote on whether to change the agency’s longstanding recommendation for administering the hepatitis B vaccine to newborns within the first 24 hours of life. The debate has emerged from a complex evaluation of the vaccine’s necessity and effectiveness, given that hepatitis B is a potentially serious viral infection that can lead to chronic liver disease. This recommendation has been a cornerstone of pediatric healthcare practices in the United States for decades, aimed at providing early protection against the virus for infants.
The upcoming vote has sparked discussions about the vaccine’s risk versus benefit for newborns. Advocates assert that the early vaccination has significantly reduced hepatitis B cases, while some argue that the necessity of the vaccine for all newborns should be reconsidered in light of changing healthcare perspectives and hepatitis B prevalence rates. As the advisory group prepares to cast their ballots, the outcome could have profound implications on public health policies and practices surrounding pediatric vaccination protocols.
Original Article
Published: Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:00:00 GMT
