CDC formally stops recommending hepatitis B vaccines for all newborns
NBC News••general
Key Points:
- The CDC has changed its long-standing guidance on the hepatitis B vaccine, now advising women who test negative for hepatitis B to consult with health care providers about whether their newborns should receive the vaccine within 24 hours of birth, instead of recommending it universally.
- The advisory committee's recommendation, accepted by acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill, reverses over 30 years of policy and suggests delaying the first hepatitis B vaccine dose until at least two months of age for babies at low risk, while still recommending immediate vaccination for babies born to infected or untested mothers.
- This policy shift has been widely criticized by public health experts and medical professionals who warn that delaying the birth dose could lead to increased hepatitis B infections, as the vaccine has been credited
