US Advisory Panel Replaces Universal Hepatitis B Birth‑Dose with Individual Decision Guidance
Updated (4 articles)
Panel vote ends universal birth‑dose recommendation The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 8‑3 to drop the blanket newborn hepatitis B shot, limiting it to infants whose mothers test positive or are untested; for all other babies the dose may be given later, with the series beginning at two months of age[1][2][3][4].
Historical birth‑dose impact quantified Since the 1991 policy, pediatric hepatitis B cases fell from roughly 18,000 annually to about 2,200, a decline credited with preventing an estimated 90,000 deaths and dramatically reducing chronic liver disease risk[1][3][4].
Political overhaul drives guidance shift Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed the original 17‑member ACIP and installed vaccine‑skeptical appointees earlier this year, prompting President Donald Trump to order a review of the childhood schedule and leaving implementation to acting CDC director Jim O’Neill[1][3][4].
Public‑health community voices strong opposition Physicians such as Dr. Vin Gupta warned the change could sow confusion and erode trust, noting a 90 % chance of chronic disease if infection occurs at birth; Senator Bill Cassidy and other experts condemned the panel as discredited and stressed the birth dose’s role in preventing lifelong liver complications[2][3][4].
Insurance coverage and clinical practice remain stable for high‑risk infants The recommendation still mandates a birth dose for babies born to hepatitis B‑positive mothers, and insurers are expected to continue covering the vaccine; clinicians will need to adjust schedules for infants who forgo the newborn shot[1][3].
Sources (4 articles)
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[1]
BBC: US panel votes to end recommending hepatitis B vaccine for all newborns – Details the 8‑3 ACIP vote, Kennedy’s panel overhaul, Trump‑ordered schedule review, and assurance that insurance coverage for high‑risk infants will not change.
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[2]
King5: Federal Advisory Panel Ends Universal Hepatitis B Birth‑Dose Recommendation – Highlights Dr. Vin Gupta’s criticism, the risk of chronic disease, and the potential for public confusion following the policy shift.
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[3]
WBNS: ACIP Votes to End Universal Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendation – Emphasizes the dramatic drop in infant cases, the Vaccine Integrity Project’s safety review, Senator Cassidy’s political backlash, and the role of acting CDC director Jim O’Neill in implementation.
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[4]
King5: ACIP Votes to End Universal Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccine – Focuses on the new two‑month schedule, expert consensus on birth‑dose efficacy, and political criticism of the reconstituted ACIP panel.
Timeline
1991 – The United States adopts a universal hepatitis B birth‑dose policy, recommending that every medically stable newborn receive the vaccine within 24 hours of birth. This policy becomes a cornerstone of U.S. pediatric immunization and is credited with preventing tens of thousands of infections over the next three decades. [1]
1991‑2021 – Infant hepatitis B cases fall dramatically from roughly 18,000 per year to about 2,200 per year, a decline public‑health analysts attribute largely to the early‑birth vaccination strategy. [2]
June 2025 – Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismisses all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and appoints a new panel that includes several anti‑vaccine figures, reshaping the advisory body that guides U.S. vaccine policy. [1]
Dec 5, 2025 – The reconstituted ACIP votes 8‑3 to end the universal hepatitis B birth‑dose recommendation, limiting the dose to infants whose mothers test positive or are untested and directing that any delayed series start at 2 months of age. [2]
Dec 5, 2025 – Acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill announces he will implement the new guidance, signaling how the agency will operationalize the shift despite the absence of a permanent CDC director. [2]
Dec 5, 2025 – President Donald Trump orders a comprehensive review of the U.S. childhood vaccination schedule, directing health officials to compare U.S. practices with those of peer countries and consider broader schedule adjustments. [1]
Dec 5, 2025 – Public‑health physician Dr. Vin Gupta tells KING 5, “Ending the universal birth‑dose recommendation will sow confusion and doubt about vaccine safety,” warning that the change could undermine public confidence in CDC, HHS, and FDA guidance. [3]
Dec 5, 2025 – Senator Bill Cassidy, a liver‑disease specialist, condemns the panel as “discredited,” arguing that abandoning the universal birth dose jeopardizes protection against chronic hepatitis B, which can lead to liver failure, cirrhosis, and cancer. [2]
Dec 5, 2025 – The ACIP retains the birth‑dose recommendation for infants of hepatitis B‑positive mothers, and officials assure that insurance coverage for the vaccine will continue unchanged for this high‑risk group. [1]
External resources (3 links)
- https://www.cdc.gov/acip/meetings/upcoming.html (cited 3 times)
- https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/vaccine-integrity-project/hepatitis-b (cited 2 times)