CDC Ends Universal Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendation for Newborns

The CDC has ended its universal recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination in newborns, a decision that comes after a vote by a vaccine advisory panel chaired by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The new guidance allows parents to decide whether infants born to hepatitis B-negative mothers should receive the vaccine, which has been recommended for all newborns since 1991.

The CDC now advises that if parents choose to delay the vaccination, it can begin as late as two months after birth. Experts, including Michaela Jackson from the Hepatitis B Foundation, have expressed concern that this shift could lead to an increase in preventable infections among children and may create confusion among parents about vaccination choices.

Meanwhile, in Illinois, the state's vaccine advisory committee voted to maintain its recommendation for the hepatitis B vaccine for all stable infants within 24 hours of birth, highlighting a growing divide between state and federal health guidelines.

Dr. Marielle Fricchione, chair of the Illinois committee, stated there is no evidence suggesting a public health problem that necessitates changing the existing vaccination policy. The implications of the CDC's decision are significant, as hepatitis B can lead to serious liver disease and has seen a dramatic decrease in incidence due to widespread vaccination, dropping nearly 90% since the early 1980s.

However, the new guidelines may lead to uneven vaccination coverage and increase the risk of hepatitis B infection among vulnerable populations.