US vaccine panel votes to end recommendation for hepatitis B jabs for newborns

December 5, 2025

A US vaccine advisory panel voted 8-3 to eliminate the long-standing recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth for babies whose mothers test negative for the virus, shifting instead to individual decision-making for parents. This decision follows Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Who is affected

Newborn babies born to mothers who test negative for hepatitis B
Pregnant people and mothers seeking guidance on newborn vaccination
Children, adolescents, and adults at risk of hepatitis B infection
Public health experts and physicians concerned about vaccine policy
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (Acip) members who were fired and replaced
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Senator Bill Cassidy and other policymakers

What action is being taken

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is changing recommendations from universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth to "individual-based decision-making" for babies born to hepatitis B-negative mothers
The panel is recommending that babies who do not receive a birth dose should get their initial vaccine dose "no earlier than two months of age"
The committee continues to recommend birth doses for babies born to hepatitis B-positive mothers

Why it matters

This decision matters because the hepatitis B vaccination program has prevented an estimated 90,000 deaths since 1991 by protecting against a serious liver infection that can cause cancer, liver failure, and cirrhosis. Weakening universal vaccination recommendations raises concerns about increased disease transmission, as not all pregnant people have reliable access to testing, some may receive false negative results, and asymptomatic carriers can unknowingly spread the virus through indirect contact like shared household items. The change also signals a broader shift in US vaccine policy under Kennedy's leadership and could undermine public confidence in a proven safe and effective vaccine, potentially leading to more people opting out and experiencing preventable illness.

What's next

The CDC's acting director must provide final sign-off on the recommendation before it becomes official guidance.

Read full article from source: BBC