ACIP Votes to Remove Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendation for Newborns | AI News Digest
According to industry insiders, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), established by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has voted 8-3 to eliminate its recommendation for administering the hepatitis B vaccine to newborns at birth. This controversial decision was reached without any evidence suggesting that the vaccine poses a risk or that delaying its administration offers any benefits. Public health experts, including several committee members, have voiced concerns that this policy change could result in higher rates of hepatitis B infections in infants, potentially leading to chronic liver disease and other severe health complications. The revised guidelines now permit the vaccine to be administered only to infants born to mothers who are known to be infected with hepatitis B or whose maternal status was not tested. Vaccination for other newborns is left up to the parents' judgment. Critics warn that this alteration could undermine years of public health initiatives and may confuse parents about the best practices for safeguarding their newborns' health.
Read more...
