In a controversial move poised to reshape infant vaccination protocols, a key U.S. advisory panel has voted to reverse its decades-long proposal for universal hepatitis B vaccination of newborns. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) decision, made Friday, restricts the vaccine’s administration to infants born to mothers with known hepatitis B infections, sparking immediate and sharp criticism from medical organizations and raising questions about the panel’s recent leadership changes under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The shift, which impacts a routine procedure for millions of American infants annually, is already drawing political reactions, including praise from former President Donald Trump.
A U.S. advisory panel has recommended against routine hepatitis B vaccination for newborns, a move that reverses decades of public health policy and has sparked immediate backlash from medical organizations. The decision, made on Friday, May 5th, by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) passed by a vote of eight to three.
The new guidance stipulates that the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine – typically the first of a three-dose series – should only be administered to infants born to mothers known to have the virus. This marks a significant shift from the previous universal vaccination recommendation implemented over 30 years ago.
Parents whose mothers tested negative for hepatitis B will now be advised to consult with their pediatrician to determine if and when to vaccinate their child. Former President Donald Trump publicly praised the decision, calling it “a very good decision” on his Truth Social platform.
The previous policy of universal vaccination shortly after birth was designed to prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, and has been credited with dramatically reducing rates of the disease in young people across the United States. This change in recommendation could impact those gains.
Medical associations have swiftly condemned the ACIP’s recommendation. “This irresponsible and deliberately misleading recommendation will lead to more hepatitis B infections in infants and children,” stated Susan J. Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, in a released statement.
Three members of the committee dissented, arguing that there was no evidence to support a change in policy. “To do no harm is a moral imperative. By modifying this recommendation, we are causing harm,” warned Cody Meissner prior to the vote. The ACIP has undergone substantial reorganization under the leadership of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver that can be transmitted through sexual contact and blood exposure, potentially leading to severe complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer. The composition of the ACIP, now including individuals frequently criticized by the scientific community for lacking relevant experience or promoting vaccine misinformation, has raised concerns about the objectivity of its recommendations.
