Summary
A federal vaccine advisory committee voted to change the longstanding recommendation that all newborns in the U.S. receive a hepatitis B vaccine at birth. The new guideline suggests that the decision should be made by parents and doctors unless the mother has tested positive for hepatitis B. The committee members were appointed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Key Facts
- A federal committee voted to change the recommendation that all U.S. newborns receive a hepatitis B shot at birth.
- The committee members were appointed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his anti-vaccine activism.
- The new guideline suggests that parents and doctors decide on the vaccine unless the mother has tested positive for hepatitis B.
- The committee vote passed 8–3 in favor of this change.
- The acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will decide whether to accept this recommendation.
- The previous guideline had been in place since 1991 to reduce childhood infections from hepatitis B.
- Critics argue the new recommendation could harm public health efforts to prevent hepatitis B.
- The panel was restructured by Kennedy in June, replacing previous members with critics of past vaccine policies.
