By Drs. Debra Bogen and Val Arkoosh

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the group has advised the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccines for all Americans, will discuss whether to change its recommendations for the hepatitis B vaccine. Their vote could negatively affect the health of children and families across the Commonwealth.

Hepatitis B is a bloodborne virus that can infect children and adults, but infants are uniquely vulnerable to this infection. The hepatitis B virus can be transmitted to infants in the womb but can also be acquired by infants after birth through close contact with the virus. Infants who become infected have a 90% chance of developing lifelong infection, compared to less than a 5% chance for adults who get infected.

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