CDC Panel Drops Universal Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendation

A key U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine panel has changed its guidance for newborns. The advisory committee voted Friday to no longer universally recommend that infants receive their first hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. The new guidance suggests the shot for babies born to mothers with an unknown hepatitis B status, or who test positive for the virus. For other infants, doctors can now administer the first dose later, typically during early pediatric check-ups. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician, criticized the decision. He called the change "a mistake," arguing the universal birth-dose policy effectively prevents mother-to-child transmission of the virus. The CDC must still formally approve the committee's recommendation. Medical experts, including CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook, are analyzing the potential impact of this major policy shift.