CDC advisors’ vote to end universal hepatitis B vaccine birth dose sparks debate

What's happening

On December 5, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to end the long-standing recommendation that all newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccination within 24 hours of birth. Under the new guidance, infants born to mothers who test negative for hepatitis B would not receive their first dose until at least 2 months old.  ACIP also recommended post-dose blood testing to determine whether additional doses are needed.

One ACIP member publicly condemned the vote, saying it “has a great potential to cause harm.” A U.S. senator who cast the deciding vote to confirm the new HHS secretary urged CDC leadership to reject the recommendation and “retain the current, evidence-based approach.”

Medical groups and public health experts criticized the vote, describing it as politically motivated and not supported by scientific data. Online conversations about the meeting spiked on Friday and continued over the weekend, as many questioned the legitimacy of the “chaotic” proceedings. As of December 8, nearly 300,000 social media posts mentioned ACIP, with the most popular garnering more than seven million views. Many online posters, including President Donald Trump, repeated the misconception that babies are not at risk from hepatitis B. Vaccine opponents also falsely claimed that hepatitis B vaccines are unnecessary and contain unsafe ingredients. Critics of the vote raised concerns that the new guidelines may confuse parents or reduce timely access to the hepatitis B vaccine.

Why it matters

Hepatitis B can cause lifelong disease and liver cancer, and delaying newborn vaccination increases preventable risk while introducing testing steps that providers warn may add cost, insurance barriers, and limited clinical value. The rapid spread of narratives surrounding the ACIP vote signals growing distrust in federal health agencies and heightened polarization that may further influence vaccination decisions.

Recommendations

Clearly communicate why the hepatitis B birth dose matters.

• Explain that infants face the highest risk of lifelong infection and liver cancer, and that the birth dose is the only way to protect babies before they are exposed—often by household contacts who may not know they’re infected. 
• Emphasize that delaying vaccination removes a proven safety net that protects all infants.

Reinforce the vaccine’s long-standing safety and effectiveness.

• Highlight that hepatitis B vaccines have been rigorously studied for decades, are 95% effective, and have driven a 99% drop in childhood hepatitis B infections. 
• Use simple, confident statements that reassure audiences the science has not changed.

Anchor messaging in trusted, evidence-based sources.

• Point out that no new data informed ACIP’s recommendation and that leading medical organizations—including AAP, SMFM, AAFP, and AMA—continue to recommend vaccination at birth. 
• Link audiences to respected resources like the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center and the AAP.

Review and update any materials that may rely on previous CDC guidance

• Audit existing materials (e.g., web pages, FAQs, social posts, partner toolkits, fact sheets) for outdated CDC language or links.
• Replace references to CDC immunization guidance with evidence-based information from organizations like the AAP.

Clarify what the new recommendation does—and doesn’t—change.

• Be sure that parents who want the birth dose know they can talk to their child’s health care provider and still receive it. Families should also know insurance coverage for pediatric hepatitis B vaccination remains in place. 
• Note that proposed immunity testing before later doses is not required by major medical organizations.

More resources

• Public Health Communications Collaborative: For Parents and Other Caregivers: Understanding Hepatitis B (HBV) and the HBV Vaccine
• Vaccine Resource Hub: Hepatitis B
• PBS News: Fact-checking the CDC panel’s reasons for dropping universal newborn hepatitis B vaccine recommendation
• AAP: Fact Checked: Hepatitis B Vaccine Given to Newborns Reduces Risk of Chronic Infection 
• Public Good News: All of your hepatitis B vaccine questions answered 
• Johns Hopkins: Why Hepatitis B Vaccination Begins at Birth