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- CDC changes Hepatitis B vaccine guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to end the universal recommendation for administering the Hepatitis B vaccine to newborns.
In an 8–3 vote, ACIP revised its guidance to recommend individualized decision-making, advising parents of infants born to mothers who test negative for Hepatitis B to consult with a health-care provider about when, or whether, to give the Hepatitis B birth dose.
New ACIP language:
For infants born to HBsAg-negative women: ACIP recommends individual-based decision-making, in consultation with a health care provider, for parents deciding when or if to give the HBV vaccine, including the birth dose.
- Parents and health care providers should consider vaccine benefits, vaccine risks, and infection risks.
- For those not receiving the HBV birth dose, the initial dose is suggested no earlier than 2 months of age.
Yes, but: The change does not prohibit newborns from receiving the vaccine within 24 hours of birth.
- Instead, it removes automatic administration, meaning parents will now need to request the birth dose.
- The shift may affect vaccination coverage, though significant changes are not anticipated.