Vaccine Advisors Under Fire for Dropping Hepatitis B Birth Vaccine Recommendation

Federal vaccine advisors hand-selected by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. voted to eliminate a recommendation that all babies be vaccinated against hepatitis B on the day of birth, a decision that has been met with widespread criticism from public health experts and medical professionals. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) made the decision with no evidence of harm from the initial dose and no evidence of any benefit from delaying the vaccination. The 83-9 vote was the third time the committee attempted to withdraw the long-standing universal recommendation, which has been in place since 1991. Public health experts expressed concern that the decision will lead to more infections in babies, resulting in increased cases of chronic liver disease, liver cancer, and premature death. "We are doing harm by changing this recommendation," said Cody Meissner, a pediatrician and voting member of the ACIP. "I think we have to be guided by the principle of do no harm, and I don't think this recommendation does that." Meissner was one of the nine committee members who voted against the change. The recommendation to vaccinate all babies against hepatitis B on the day of birth was made after attempts to vaccinate only high-risk infants were found to be ineffective in preventing the spread of the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that hepatitis B is a significant public health concern, with approximately 20,000 new cases reported in the United States each year. Some members of the ACIP panel expressed concerns that the decision was made without sufficient evidence to support the change. "We need to be guided by the science, and the science is clear: vaccinating babies on the day of birth is a safe and effective way to prevent hepatitis B," said Dr. Sarah Long, a pediatrician and voting member of the ACIP. "I'm disappointed that we're moving in a direction that could put more babies at risk." The CDC has stated that it will review the ACIP's decision and consider the implications for public health policy. In the meantime, the agency is urging parents to continue following the current recommendation to vaccinate their babies against hepatitis B on the day of birth. "We understand that this decision may cause confusion, but we want to reassure parents that the hepatitis B vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect their babies from this serious disease," said a CDC spokesperson. The ACIP's decision is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, at which point it will be up to the CDC to implement the changes. In the meantime, public health experts are urging policymakers to reconsider the decision and prioritize the health and well-being of babies and families.