CDC Advisory Committee Votes to Reverse Decades-Old Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendations

The U.S. advisory committee responsible for national vaccine guidance has overturned a policy that had recommended hepatitis B vaccination for all newborns, a measure that had drastically reduced the virus among infants. The decision came with an 8-3 vote from a panel appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has a history of questioning vaccines.

This vote followed several unsuccessful attempts over two days of hearings marked by confusion and disagreement, which critics say damaged the credibility of the committee.

Amy Middleman, a pediatrics professor and longtime committee liaison, warned that the vote marked the first instance where the panel endorsed a policy that could increase the risk of disease and death for children rather than reduce it.

Susan J. Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, called the decision irresponsible and intentionally misleading, predicting that it could lead to more infections in infants. She attributed the move to a deliberate effort to create fear and mistrust among families.

Committee members supporting the policy argued that the universal birth dose, introduced in 1991, contributed only modestly to reducing cases and noted that the U.S. approach differed from other nations, which rely on more targeted vaccination. They also expressed concerns about vaccine safety, citing limited trialsa claim that experts have repeatedly disputed.

The new guidance still recommends the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours for infants born to mothers who test positive for the virus. For babies born to mothers who test negative, vaccination is now suggested based on individual discussions with healthcare providers. The committee also proposed changes to the multi-dose schedule, encouraging immune response testing before subsequent dosesa practice not currently supported by scientific evidence.

Dissenting members, including Joseph Hibbeln, warned of potential harm to children if the new guidance is implemented.

The recommendation will now be reviewed by Jim ONeill, acting head of the CDC, whose decision will influence both the availability and insurance coverage of the vaccine.

Former CDC director Rochelle Walensky projected that eliminating the universal birth dose for infants of hepatitis B-negative mothers could increase newborn infections by 8% annually. Vaccine expert Paul Offit described the committee as a parody of its former self, noting that half of hepatitis B transmissions to young children occur during birth, while the other half happen through casual contact with undiagnosed carriers.

Historically, the hepatitis B vaccine has prevented tens of thousands of infant infections annually and dramatically reduced the risk of chronic liver disease and liver cancer among children. Supporters of the policy shift cited a return to pre-1990s targeted vaccination practices, though many experts dispute the effectiveness of this approach.

During the hearings, presentations on disease rates and vaccine safety were delivered by non-traditional experts, including a climate researcher and an anti-vaccine advocate, rather than CDC specialists. Committee members emphasized parental rights over collective public health protection, with vice chair Robert Malone advocating for individual decision-making.

Earlier this year, the committee also revised policies for other vaccines, including the MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) combination and the COVID-19 booster. Many new committee members, appointed after Kennedy Jr. dismissed the previous panel, lack medical backgrounds and have promoted vaccine misinformation.

Critics, including Cody Meissner of Dartmouth College, condemned the changes as harmful. Experts have also noted rising vaccine-preventable disease cases, including the highest number of measles cases since 2000, pediatric flu deaths, and surging whooping cough infections, primarily among unvaccinated children.

Author: Connor Blake