Advisers Revise Recommendations on Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccination

A panel of vaccine advisers recommended ending the universal hepatitis B vaccine for U.S. newborns with mothers who test negative. They suggest parents consult healthcare providers to decide on the vaccine timing, with a delay no earlier than two months of age.

A panel advising U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has voted to change the longstanding recommendation that all American newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine. In an advisory meeting held on Friday, the committee recommended that parents, in consultation with their healthcare provider, make an informed decision about vaccinating their infants, particularly for those whose mothers test negative for hepatitis B.

The committee cast a decisive vote of 8 to 3, endorsing the view that parents should not be bound by the earlier universal vaccination guideline. This move signals a significant shift in public health practices concerning hepatitis B vaccination for infants.

The panel advises parents who prefer to delay vaccinating their children to offer the first dose no sooner than their child reaches two months of age. This recommendation underscores the importance of personalized healthcare decisions tailored to individual circumstances.

(With inputs from agencies.)