PHOENIX – Arizona health officials are urging all parents to vaccinate their newborns against hepatitis B despite a recent change in the federal recommendation.

“We would like to make sure that parents understand the importance of this birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine based on the safety, efficacy as well as historic benefits associated with prevention of infection,” Dr. Joel Terriquez of the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Friday.

A federal vaccine advisory committee voted earlier that day to recommend the birth dose only when the mother has tested positive or her infection status is unknown. The recommendation for all babies to get the hepatitis B vaccine at birth had been in effect since 1991.

It will be up to the parents and their doctors to d

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