Change on the Table: Should Newborns Still Receive the Hepatitis B Vaccine at Birth?

Sat Sep 05 2026 14:49:10 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A federal advisory committee is reevaluating the necessity of administering the hepatitis B vaccine to all newborns immediately after birth, potentially shifting the focus to only those at risk based on maternal infection.

On Thursday, a federal vaccine advisory committee gathered in Atlanta to review the necessity of the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns administered at birth. Under current guidelines, all infants get the vaccine within 24 hours of birth, aimed at combating a serious liver infection that can lead to chronic illness. The committee, now under the leadership of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is considering recommending the vaccine only for infants whose mothers test positive for hepatitis B, a strategy that was utilized over three decades ago. Discussions indicate there is a growing concern among committee members about the blanket vaccination of all newborns, raising questions about public health strategy and parental autonomy.

A federal vaccine advisory committee convened Thursday in Atlanta to discuss whether newborns should still get the hepatitis B vaccine on the day they’re born.

For decades, the government has advised that all babies be vaccinated against the liver infection right after birth. The shots are widely considered a public health success for preventing thousands of illnesses.

However, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s committee is considering whether to recommend the birth dose only for babies whose mothers test positive, which would mark a return to a public health strategy abandoned over three decades ago. For other babies, the decision would be left up to parents and their healthcare providers.

Committee member Vicky Pebsworth stressed the need to address stakeholder and parental concerns surrounding the current recommendations.

The committee advises the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the use of already approved vaccines. Recommendations from the committee are typically followed by CDC directors, who guide vaccination programs across the nation. However, the lack of a permanent CDC director raises questions about the implementation of potential new recommendations.

Kennedy, known for his critical views on vaccines prior to being appointed as the nation’s health official, has reshuffled the advisory panel. It now includes several anti-vaccine advocates, which has caused friction with established medical communities.

Currently, the guidance for hepatitis B vaccination states that a dose should be given within 24 hours post-birth to all medically stable infants, unless otherwise indicated. The committee is expected to vote on modifying this guidance, which could have lasting implications on public health efforts to control hepatitis B infections among newborns.

The hepatitis B virus can lead to severe complications, especially in infants where a chronic infection can emerge. Reduced vaccination rates have added urgency to these discussions, as evidenced by the historical reduction of hepatitis cases in children following the implementation of initial vaccine protocols.

The outcome of these deliberations could reshape parental choices surrounding vaccinations, especially amid growing hesitance and opposition towards certain immunization practices.