Contentious Overhaul of U.S. Hepatitis B Vaccine Policy Sparks Debate

U.S. advisors scrapped a recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination at birth, a shift backed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Experts warn this will increase infection rates. The policy advises the vaccine only for infants of high-risk mothers. Critics say this conflicts with established safety data.

In a dramatic shift, U.S. health advisors have abandoned a long-standing recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns, marking a notable policy achievement for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The change implies that the birth dose will now only be required for infants born to mothers who test positive for the virus or have an unknown hepatitis B status. Advocates of the new policy suggest that parents of infants whose mothers test negative should discuss the timing of the vaccine series with their healthcare providers.

The decision has been met with intense disapproval from public health experts and organizations such as the American Medical Association, who argue that the new policy creates barriers to vaccination and contradicts years of research affirming the vaccine's safety and efficacy. Hepatitis B, often transmitted via bodily fluids, can lead to serious liver disease. The previous initiative saw a significant reduction in infections, which have dropped by nearly 90% since the vaccine's introduction.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, now under the leadership of Kennedy appointee Jim O'Neill, will incorporate these recommendations into broader public health guidelines. Insurance groups have stated they will maintain coverage for the vaccine, as corporate reactions display some concern, with vaccine makers Merck, Sanofi, and GSK affirming the vaccine's safety amid minor share downturns. Kennedy's move to reshape vaccine policy has been a point of contention, prompting varied reactions from lawmakers and medical professionals.