CDC discontinues universal Hepatitis B vaccine recommendation for US newborns

USA— The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that it will no longer recommend hepatitis B vaccination for all newborns, ending more than three decades of universal guidance on the issue.

The agency’s updated policy follows a decision by its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which voted earlier this month to adopt an “individual-based decision-making” approach instead of the longstanding universal birth-dose recommendation.

Under the new guidance, only infants whose mothers test positive for hepatitis B or whose status is unknown will automatically receive the vaccine at birth.

For babies born to mothers who test negative, the CDC now leaves the choice to parents and healthcare providers, who must weigh potential benefits and risks before deciding whether to begin the vaccination series immediately or postpone it.

If the birth dose is deferred, the agency recommends that the first shot be given no earlier than two months of age.

CDC Director Jim O’Neil, who officially signed off on the policy, said the decision reflects ACIP’s extensive review of available data.

“We are restoring the balance of informed consent to parents whose newborns face very low risk of contracting hepatitis B,” he stated.

The agency’s move marks a major policy shift after more than 30 years of universal infant immunization.

However, the decision has sparked strong backlash from medical organizations and public health experts.

During the ACIP hearing, several statements questioning vaccine safety and necessity drew criticism for contradicting established medical evidence.

Following the vote, numerous medical bodies expressed alarm over what they described as a dangerous reversal of public health progress achieved over decades.

Vaccines protecting against hepatitis B were first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1986.

Five years later, in 1991, the US adopted universal vaccination for all newborns, administering the first of three doses shortly after birth.

Since that policy was introduced, data show that chronic hepatitis B infections among children and adolescents have dropped by around 99%, demonstrating the effectiveness of early immunization in preventing the disease’s transmission.

Reacting to the new guidance, American Medical Association (AMA) trustee Dr. Sandra Adamson Fryhofer emphasized that the hepatitis B birth dose remains a cornerstone of infant protection.

“Decades of scientific evidence show that this vaccine prevents severe, lifelong liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death,” she warned, adding that reversing the recommendation risks “confusion, reduced vaccine confidence, and preventable illness.”

The reshuffling of ACIP’s membership has also fueled controversy.

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed the previous committee in June and appointed new members, including several figures known for their skepticism toward vaccines and other public health measures such as COVID-19 restrictions.

Critics argue that these appointments have weakened the scientific integrity of the CDC’s immunization policymaking process.