Birth doses of hepatitis B vaccine on decline in US before CDC scrapped recommendation - Reuters
Birth doses of hepatitis B vaccine on decline in US before CDC scrapped recommendation Reuters
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Notable Quotes
"If the rates of vaccination decline too significantly, we may see a resurgence in hepatitis B infections in infants and children."
— Joshua Rothman , Academic
"The reason pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatrics still recommend the birth dose for all newborns is that it serves as a safety net."
— Joshua Rothman , Academic
""This recommendation reflects ACIP’s rigorous review of the available evidence.""
— Jim O'Neill , Executive
""Rolling back this recommendation creates confusion and doubt about vaccines, reverses hard-won progress in preventing hepatitis B, and will undoubtedly result in completely preventable illness and death.""
— Sandra Adamson Fryhofer , Academic
""Ending the recommendation for newborns makes it more likely the number of cases will begin to increase again.""
— Bill Cassidy , Politician
"Ending the recommendation for newborns makes it more likely the number of cases will begin to increase again."
— Bill Cassidy , Politician
"No rational science has been presented to support the new recommendations."
— Dr. Joseph Hibbeln , Academic
"AAI strongly urges the CDC to reject the recommendation and reaffirm the long-standing, evidence-based guidance to administer the first dose within 24 hours of birth for all infants."
— Dr Ulrich von Andrian , Academic
"Extensive safety monitoring in the UK and internationally continues to show that the benefits of these vaccinations outweigh any risks."
— Dr Alison Cave , Executive
Key People
Republican senator from Louisiana.
Former president of the United States known for his aggressive economic policies.
Chief safety officer of the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Dr. Joseph Hibbeln is an ACIP committee member and former Chief of the Section on Nutritional Neurosciences at the NIH.
AAI president who commented on the CDC's recommendation change.
Jim O'Neill was acting CDC director and deputy secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
Joshua Rothman is a pediatrician at the University of California, San Diego.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an American environmental attorney and activist.
Health secretary who fired the previous CDC vaccine panel.
Trustee of the American Medical Association who expressed concerns about the new vaccine guidance.
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<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi4wFBVV95cUxNSVpGay1xVGRmSHVUZ0xzb3FDZUxSWU0tdjFRQi1Pd3FtNWR5M2VzNmUtLW96SE5TbndmZFMyYVdEMTQxUkhiSF8xYzhOWTBISEllWm56RlNWcEVvZExhd2xWY21XNDhPc0lDbnBtTjlrR0dwT1dfM0xraWZ3ZG9tVElvOVVDb3FzR0pUREF1Z3F4Y2pFaGs3Y2lscnRfVVlod3B1bFAwdGk0ZWpMVEtmeDJGdnN5QmNfWUtYQkNEZFpsbnF5d09FOERoakZDOXVSTGVMcUp1dU5yQVNsbmYyZzRjOA?oc=5" target="_blank">Birth doses of hepatitis B vaccine on decline in US before CDC scrapped recommendation</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>
A study published in JAMA reveals that hepatitis B vaccination rates for U.S. newborns declined by over 10 percentage points between 2023 and 2025, coinciding with increased public discourse on childhood vaccinations and the CDC's December 2025 policy change.
The CDC has ceased recommending that all infants receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, advising instead that mothers who test negative for the virus consult healthcare providers about vaccination timing, a move that has sparked significant controversy.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to reverse its longstanding recommendation that all newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, a decision that has been met with criticism from public health experts.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, now comprising members with vaccine skepticism, voted to end the universal recommendation for newborn hepatitis B vaccination, a decision that has raised concerns among public health professionals.
Medical organizations have expressed alarm over the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' vote to remove the universal hepatitis B vaccine recommendation for newborns, warning it could reverse decades of progress in combating the virus.
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