U.S. Health Panel Reexamines Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccine Policy After 30 Years
A U.S. health committee is set to review recommendations for hepatitis B vaccinations in newborns this week. The discussion follows decades of routine immunization at birth, a practice introduced in 1991. Some experts warn that changing the policy could put infants at risk of serious long-term health problems.
The hepatitis B vaccine was first licensed in the U.S. in 1981. By 1991, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) advised giving the first dose to newborns. This move became a cornerstone of public health, cutting annual child infections from around 18,000 to roughly 2,200 over 30 years.
Critics now argue that vaccinating babies so early may raise concerns. However, public health researchers estimate that delaying the shot until two months old could lead to 1,400 additional infections and 480 child deaths. Up to 90% of infants who catch hepatitis B develop chronic infections, which can cause liver cancer, cirrhosis, or organ failure.
Several medical groups have strongly opposed any changes to the current policy. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Patty Murray has demanded that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testify before Congress about ACIP’s decisions.
The committee’s review comes after years of success in reducing hepatitis B cases among children. Any shift in policy would need to balance potential risks against the proven benefits of early vaccination. The outcome of Thursday’s discussion remains uncertain.
