(WAND) - The CDC recently changed the recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination in babies. For more than 30 years, standard practice was for babies to have the vaccine within 24 hours of birth.

They now recommend only giving the vaccine at birth to infants whose mothers test positive for the virus. Many medical experts disagree with the change.

"Delaying the birth dose would increase infants' risk of hepatitis B infection during that very critical period," Dr. Angela Ulrich said.

Ulrich is an infectious disease epidemiologist and professor at the University of Minnesota. She analyzes research to inform disease prevention and control policies. Her research finds that delaying the hep B vaccine at birth puts infants at risk for life-threatening illnesses.

"Without the birth dose, 90% of

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