Overview
- ACIP voted 8–3 to end the routine hepatitis B shot at birth for infants of mothers who test negative, advising shared decision-making with the option to start at two months.
- Infants born to mothers who are hepatitis B positive or whose status is unknown would still be recommended to receive the birth dose under the panel’s guidance.
- The change is not final and requires approval from acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill, keeping current federal guidance in flux.
- Major medical groups, including liver and infectious-disease societies and the AAP’s allies, urged the CDC to keep the universal birth dose, citing decades of safety data and steep drops in pediatric infections.
- State and local health leaders from New Mexico to Colorado and Baltimore said they will continue recommending the birth dose, warning of confusion, access gaps outside hospital settings, and increased risk to infants.