CDC advisers could reverse newborn hepatitis B vaccine recommendations
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is preparing to vote on whether to remove the longstanding recommendation for newborns to receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, a practice credited with reducing acute hepatitis B infections in children by 99%.
- Some new ACIP members, including chair Dr. Kirk Milhoan, have expressed concerns about potential risks such as neonatal fever from the birth dose, despite extensive research showing no evidence of serious adverse effects and significant benefits in preventing millions of infections and hospitalizations.
- The committee’s decision could influence insurance coverage and vaccination practices, though doctors would still be able to administer the vaccine; the discussion includes whether to delay the first dose based on individual risk assessments, especially given
