A federal advisory committee has voted to discontinue the long-standing recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination for infants in the United States. The decision, made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), allows parents to decide whether their child should receive the vaccine at birth if the mother tests negative for the virus.

Previously, the CDC recommended that all infants receive the hepatitis B vaccine shortly after birth, followed by two additional doses at one to two months and six to 18 months. The new guidance maintains that infants born to mothers who test positive for hepatitis B should still receive the vaccine at birth.

The committee's vote has drawn criticism from public health experts, who argue that the change could hinder vaccination efforts. Dr. William Schaffner, a vaccine expert at Vanderbilt University, expressed concern, stating, "This is the group that can’t shoot straight." The CDC has recommended the hepatitis B vaccine for infants since 1991, citing its effectiveness in reducing infection rates by 95%.

The committee's decision was influenced by discussions about the adequacy of previous safety studies and the perceived low risk of infection for most infants. Some committee members expressed discomfort with the idea of vaccinating all newborns, suggesting that more research is needed to assess potential long-term effects of the vaccine. However, others pointed out that there is no documented evidence of harm from the birth doses.

Dr. Su Wang, a senior advisor with the Hepatitis B Foundation, shared her personal experience with the virus, emphasizing the unpredictability of a child's risk. "We cannot predict a child’s future risk. Like seatbelts, our overall risk of getting into a [car] accident [is] low, but we universally wear them because we cannot control the world around us," she said.

The committee's vote was initially scheduled for Thursday but was postponed to allow members more time to review the proposals. During the discussions, tensions arose as some members questioned the safety of the hepatitis B vaccine and the risks of infection. Critics of the committee's new direction argue that it reflects a shift away from evidence-based medicine.

The acting director of the CDC, Jim O’Neill, will decide whether to accept the committee's recommendations. The panel's recent changes come after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed new members, many of whom have been associated with anti-vaccine sentiments. This has raised concerns about the credibility of the committee and the CDC's guidance on vaccination.

Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection that can lead to long-term health issues, including liver failure and cancer. Experts emphasize the importance of early vaccination to prevent the virus from taking hold. The World Health Organization and health authorities in Canada continue to recommend that infants receive the hepatitis B vaccine shortly after birth.

As the debate continues, public health experts warn that the decision could have broader implications for vaccination efforts and public health strategies in the U.S. and beyond. The committee's recent actions have sparked discussions about the future of vaccine recommendations and the importance of maintaining trust in public health institutions.