A Trump-era panel votes to stop recommending all US newborns get the hepatitis B vaccine, sparking condemnation from medical groups.
WASHINGTON: A US federal vaccine advisory panel has voted to end the decades-old recommendation that all newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) passed the new guidance for “individual-based decision-making” on Friday.
It now recommends that for infants born to mothers who test negative, the birth dose decision should “consider vaccine benefits, vaccine risks, and infection risks.”
The 8-3 vote upends a universal vaccination policy in place since 1991, which had virtually eradicated the liver disease in young Americans.
The panel was overhauled earlier this year by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who replaced all its members.
Medical groups immediately condemned the move as irresponsible and dangerous.
“This irresponsible and purposely misleading guidance will lead to more hepatitis B infections in infants and children,” said American Academy of Pediatrics President Susan J. Kressly.
Critics highlighted widespread shortcomings in US maternal health screening and the risk of infection from others.
The panel also voted that babies not vaccinated at birth should wait at least two months for their first dose.
Trump-appointed officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are expected to formally adopt the recommendations.
The ACIP has already tweaked advice on Covid-19 and measles shots since its reconstitution.
Medical experts fear the push could further contribute to declining US vaccination rates.
The panel began a broader review of the childhood vaccination schedule on Friday.
It sparked further controversy by allowing testimony from lawyer Aaron Siri, a close Kennedy associate known for spreading unfounded vaccine theories.
While President Donald Trump supports Kennedy’s policies, some Republicans like Senator Bill Cassidy have pushed back.
Cassidy, a medical doctor, condemned the ACIP decision on Friday.
CDC officials “should not sign these new recommendations and instead retain the current, evidence-based approach,” he said.
Several ACIP members argued the change aligns the US with countries like France and Britain.
Federal vaccine guidelines often dictate insurance coverage in the US, where a vaccine can cost hundreds of dollars.
The committee’s influence is waning, with Democratic-led states announcing they will no longer follow its recommendations.
Ahead of the vote, dissenting member Dr. Cody Meissner urged his colleagues not to change the current recommendations.
“Do no harm is a moral imperative. We are doing harm by changing this wording,” he warned.
