The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has ceased the distribution of hepatitis B vaccines to newborns, a decision that has sparked debate among health experts.
This decision follows the guidance from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
The new recommendation suggests that if mothers test negative for hepatitis B, the vaccination can be postponed until the infant reaches two months of age.
A press release clarified: “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today adopted individual-based decision-making for hepatitis B immunization for parents deciding whether to give the hepatitis B vaccine, including the birth dose, to infants born to women who test negative for the virus. For those infants not receiving the birth dose, it is suggested that the initial dose be administered no earlier than two months of age.”
Hepatitis B is a liver infection that spreads through contact with blood and body fluids.
According to the NHS, hepatitis B can be contracted through various means:
Many individuals with hepatitis B experience either no symptoms or only mild symptoms.
Commenting on the decision, Acting Director of the CDC and Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill stated: “This recommendation reflects ACIP’s rigorous review of the available evidence.
“We are restoring the balance of informed consent to parents whose newborns face little risk of contracting hepatitis B.”
The practice of vaccinating newborns began in 1991, and experts from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia report that the immunization program has nearly eradicated the disease among children.
Dr. Susan J. Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), expressed her dismay over the decision.
“As a pediatrician, this is heartbreaking when we have a vaccine that can prevent so many infections, and it is deeply disappointing to see the continued dismissal of expertise to inform recommendations that have broad implications on the health of America’s children,” she commented.
Parents who prefer their newborns to receive the vaccine at birth should consult with their healthcare provider for further guidance.