CDC Panel Considers Ending Routine Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns

A key vaccine advisory committee may soon vote to change a decades-long U.S. health policy. The panel is considering whether to stop recommending the hepatitis B vaccine for all newborns. For years, American infants have routinely received the hepatitis B shot shortly after birth. The vaccine protects against a serious liver virus. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This group is now reviewing the universal newborn vaccination policy. A potential vote could lead to a new recommendation. Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver. It can cause lifelong infection and serious health problems. The virus spreads through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. The current policy aims to protect infants from infected mothers during childbirth. Widespread vaccination has dramatically reduced hepatitis B cases in children. The committee's discussion reflects the success of the vaccination program. With very low infection rates now, advisors are weighing if the strategy should change. Any final decision by the CDC would follow the panel's official recommendation.