On December 5, 2025, the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel made a significant decision regarding the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns. The panel voted to change the recommendations, moving away from the decades-old practice of administering a universal birth dose of the vaccine. This change comes after heated debates and confusion among members on what they were voting on. The panel ultimately voted in favor of scrapping the universal birth dose recommendation, with eight members in favor and three against.
Under the new guidance, parents will need to consult with a healthcare provider about when to give their baby the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, provided that the birthing parent tested negative for the disease. The three-dose vaccine regimen will now start no earlier than two months of age for infants, with subsequent doses to be discussed based on blood tests of the newborn’s immunity levels.
Public health experts have expressed concerns about the lack of data supporting the proposed timing of vaccination and have cautioned that delaying the initial dose could increase vulnerability to hepatitis B infection. The decision to delay the first dose to the second month of age could potentially lead to more childhood infections, liver cancer cases, and hepatitis B-related deaths.
The hepatitis B vaccine has been instrumental in reducing infection rates in children, with cases dropping by 99 percent from 1990 to 2019. However, the updated recommendation’s success relies on effective screening for hepatitis B in pregnant individuals. While the CDC recommends testing all pregnant individuals for hepatitis B, screening rates are not optimal, and false negatives can occur.
The panel’s decision has sparked concerns among public health experts about potential consequences for vaccine access. ACIP’s recommendations directly impact vaccine coverage, with vaccines for children covered by private health insurance or federal programs like Vaccines for Children. Weakening the recommendation for the hepatitis B vaccine could potentially hinder access to the vaccine for newborns.
Overall, the decision to change the recommendations for the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns has raised significant debate and concerns among public health experts. The impact of this decision on vaccine access and childhood infection rates remains a topic of discussion and concern within the healthcare community. This is a developing story that will continue to evolve as more information becomes available.
