U.S. Vaccine Panel Drops Newborn Hepatitis B Shot, Drawing Trump's Praise and Medical Opposition

A key U.S. vaccine advisory panel voted Friday to remove the Hepatitis B vaccination from the recommended schedule for newborns. The decision has sparked a sharp divide between political supporters and major medical groups. The independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which guides U.S. vaccination policy, made the change. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appoints the panel's members. Former President Donald Trump quickly praised the move on social media. He called it a win for parental choice. However, leading health organizations strongly oppose the change. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other expert groups warn that removing the newborn dose risks increasing dangerous infections. They stress the vaccine safely prevents a serious liver disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must now decide whether to officially accept the panel's revised schedule.