Controversial Shift in U.S. Vaccine Policy Sparks Outcry

Vaccine advisers have rescinded the U.S. recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination in newborns, a decision hailed by health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Critics warn it undermines public health progress. The change emphasizes parental choice but raises concerns about increased hepatitis B risk among children.

A panel of vaccine advisers has effectively overturned a longstanding U.S. policy, removing the universal hepatitis B vaccination recommendation for newborns. The decision marks a significant policy victory for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but has prompted fierce criticism from public health experts.

The committee's new guidelines suggest the hepatitis B birth dose only for infants of mothers with unknown or positive hepatitis B status. Previously, the vaccine was recommended for all children starting at birth to prevent serious liver disease.

Critics, including the American Medical Association, argue that the change is not only contradictory to decades of evidence supporting the vaccine's safety and efficacy but also poses potential health threats. Public health experts worry the shift could lead to a rise in hepatitis B infections, threatening long-standing public health achievements.

(With inputs from agencies.)