Pediatricians across the United States are rejecting a recent recommendation from CDC advisers to limit Hepatitis B vaccination for newborns. Doctors, hospitals, and health agencies say they will continue giving the vaccine to all babies at birth.
The change came from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which voted to stop the long-standing rule of giving the first Hepatitis B dose to every newborn. Under the new advice, only babies whose mothers have Hepatitis B, or whose infection status is unknown, would get the vaccine right after birth. Other babies could receive the first dose later, starting at two months old.
Many pediatricians disagree with this decision. They say the universal birth-dose vaccination has been very effective in preventing Hepatitis B. Hospitals like Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago stated they will continue vaccinating all newborns. Experts explain that universal vaccination has reduced childhood Hepatitis B infections by nearly 99 percent over the past decades.
Doctors warn that giving the vaccine only to some babies is risky. Some mothers may not know they carry the virus. Others may test negative but still have a small risk of passing the infection to their child. Pediatricians note that earlier attempts to vaccinate only babies of infected mothers did not control the disease well.
State health agencies and public health groups have also rejected the ACIP guidance. Several alliances representing multiple states confirmed that they will continue offering the Hepatitis B birth dose to all newborns.
The American Academy of Pediatrics said the vaccine schedule for children will not change. They stress that giving the birth dose is safe and effective. Pediatricians say the vaccine protects children from serious health problems, including liver infections, liver cancer, and early death caused by Hepatitis B.
Health experts advise parents to follow the current practice of vaccinating all newborns. They emphasize using proven data and science to protect children, rather than changing guidance based on new recommendations that may be confusing.
