Kennedy's vaccine panel expected to recommend delaying hepatitis B shot in children
Summary
A federal vaccine advisory panel is considering a proposal to delay the hepatitis B vaccine for children until age 4. Currently, this vaccine is recommended at birth. The decision will be discussed at an upcoming meeting of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.Key Facts
- A panel led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to recommend delaying the hepatitis B vaccine until age 4.
- The hepatitis B vaccine has been given to newborns in the U.S. for over 30 years.
- Hepatitis B case rates among people 19 and younger have decreased by 99% from 1990 to 2022.
- Pediatricians are concerned that delaying the vaccine could increase the risk of children getting hepatitis B.
- The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will discuss this recommendation on September 18-19.
- The panel's recommendations can affect which vaccines insurance plans and federal programs cover.
- Experts noted the lack of typical analysis before this recommendation, which is unusual for ACIP.
- The draft agenda for the meeting was made public only a few days before its start date.
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