CDC Panel Recommends Earlier Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns

A key U.S. vaccine advisory committee has updated its long-standing guidance for when infants should receive their first hepatitis B shot. The panel now recommends the vaccine be given within 24 hours of birth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted for the change. The move strengthens previous advice that allowed the first dose to be given at the hospital or during a baby's first check-up. Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver. It can cause lifelong infection and serious health problems. Vaccinating newborns provides the earliest possible protection against the disease, which can be transmitted from mother to child during birth. The CDC director must still formally approve the committee's recommendation. Once approved, it will become the official U.S. immunization guideline for healthcare providers.