**CDC Panel Ends Universal Hepatitis B Shots for Newborns: What’s Behind the Decision**
A panel of health experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has voted to end its long-standing recommendation that all newborns be vaccinated against hepatitis B before leaving the hospital. This change, announced Friday, has sparked public concern and a need for fact-checking after decades of universal newborn immunization guidance.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) discussed several reasons for this change during its meeting. One of the key reasons was based on updated data showing that most newborns are not at high risk of getting hepatitis B. According to the panel, cases of infants getting the virus within the first few months are now extremely low in the U.S., thanks to improved maternal screening during pregnancy.
Another argument was that administering the vaccine later—rather than in the first 24 hours—could help build stronger immunity and reduce vaccine hesitancy from parents. Some public health advocates, however, worry that delaying the vaccine could allow at-risk babies to slip through the cracks, especially when a mother’s hepatitis B status is unknown or falsely reported.
Fact-checking the panel’s discussions, medical experts clarified that while rates of vertical transmission (from mother to baby) have dropped, they haven’t disappeared. In rare cases where a mother’s virus status is undiagnosed, newborn vaccination serves as a critical backup.
The CDC panel also noted rising concern from parents wanting more control over vaccination timing. They acknowledged that growing vaccine hesitancy has impacted trust, and giving parents more choices may encourage broader vaccine acceptance over time.
The recommendation to stop universal newborn hepatitis B vaccination is not final yet. It now goes to CDC leadership for review. If adopted, it will shift how pediatricians and hospitals handle birth-dose vaccinations, especially in states that haven’t passed strict vaccine laws.
For decades, the hepatitis B birth dose has been a key part of early childhood vaccination in the U.S. Any change to this policy will likely continue fueling national discussions on public health, parenting, and medical guidelines.
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