Shift in Hepatitis B Vaccine Policy Sparks Public Health Concerns

A U.S. vaccine advisory panel has changed its longstanding recommendation for all infants to receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. This marks a significant shift in policy, raising concerns among health experts about potential impacts on public health progress in preventing hepatitis B infections.

A significant policy shift emerged as a U.S. vaccine advisory panel scrapped the longstanding recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccinations for infants at birth. This decision relinquished a policy in place since 1991, prompting serious concerns from health experts about potential setbacks in managing the hepatitis B virus.

Hepatitis B, a notorious liver-attacking virus, remains a leading cause of liver cancer globally. Prior to widespread vaccinations, transmission from mothers to infants was prevalent, a factor driving the original universal vaccination policy. Despite the change, experts warn this could undermine decades of vaccination-driven progress.

Under the new guidance, hepatitis B vaccinations at birth are reserved for infants whose mothers test positive or have unknown status. For others, vaccination decisions will be left to parental discretion, in consultation with healthcare providers. The CDC's potential acceptance of this recommendation remains pivotal in shaping future public health outcomes concerning hepatitis B infections.

(With inputs from agencies.)