RFK Jr. Committee Reexamines Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccine Policy Amid Expert Warnings
A committee led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reviewing the long-standing recommendation to vaccinate newborns against hepatitis B within 24 hours of birth. The move has sparked concern among public health experts, who warn that changing the policy could reverse decades of progress in reducing childhood infections.
The hepatitis B vaccine has been a cornerstone of public health since its introduction in the U.S. in 1981. Since 1991, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has advised giving the first dose to all medically stable newborns weighing at least 4.4 pounds. This approach has dramatically cut cases among children, dropping from around 18,000 annually to about 2,200 over 30 years.
The debate over newborn hepatitis B vaccinations comes at a time when the disease still affects millions in the U.S. Any shift in policy could have measurable consequences, including more infections and deaths among unprotected infants. The final decision will determine whether the country maintains its decades-long progress in controlling the virus.
