US States Rebel Against CDC's Hepatitis B Vaccine Guidance

Many states in the United States have announced their intention to defy new guidance against universally recommending and administering the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, despite the recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, last week. The decision was made by the Northeast Public Health Collaborative and the West Coast Health Alliance, which were formed earlier this year in response to the overhaul of vaccine policy by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. According to officials, the states plan to continue recommending and administering the vaccine as they have done since 1991, when ACIP and the American Academy of Pediatrics first recommended a universal dose of the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours after birth. "We cannot afford to wait for the federal government to make decisions that put the health and well-being of our citizens at risk," said Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a leading public health expert and member of the Northeast Public Health Collaborative. "The hepatitis B vaccine has been proven to be safe and effective, and we will continue to recommend it to new parents." The hepatitis B virus is a serious and incurable infection that can lead to liver damage and liver cancer, and it can be passed from mother to child during delivery. Without vaccination, about 90 percent of infants infected at birth develop chronic hepatitis B infection, and among those with chronic infection, 25 percent will die prematurely from the disease. The World Health Organization estimates that there are over 290 million people living with chronic hepatitis B worldwide, and the virus is a major public health concern in many countries, particularly in Asia and Africa. Global health experts have expressed concern over the new guidance from ACIP, citing the potential risks to public health. "The decision to recommend against universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth is a step backward for global public health," said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. "We urge the US government to reconsider this decision and prioritize the health and well-being of its citizens." The controversy surrounding the hepatitis B vaccine has sparked a heated debate in the US, with some arguing that the vaccine is not necessary for all newborns and that the risks of vaccination outweigh the benefits. However, many public health experts and medical professionals have come out in support of the vaccine, citing the overwhelming evidence of its safety and effectiveness. The current status of the controversy remains unclear, with many states continuing to recommend and administer the hepatitis B vaccine at birth despite the new guidance from ACIP. The federal government has yet to comment on the decision by the states, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming weeks and months.