Summary
A U.S. health panel voted to change its recommendation on giving the hepatitis B vaccine to newborns. The new guidance suggests parents without hepatitis B history talk to a doctor about vaccinating their babies. The panel still advises the vaccine for babies whose mothers have hepatitis B.
Key Facts
- The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to change the recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination in newborns.
- The previous guidance recommended the vaccine shortly after birth for all babies.
- The new advice is for parents without hepatitis B history to discuss the vaccine with their healthcare provider.
- Babies born to mothers with hepatitis B should still receive the vaccine soon after birth.
- Medical experts criticized the decision, warning it could lead to more hepatitis B infections.
- Hepatitis B is a virus that can cause long-term liver issues and is spread through bodily fluids.
- The hepatitis B vaccine has been recommended for infants in the U.S. since 1991.
- This change occurred under Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, known for questioning vaccine safety.
