CDC delays hepatitis B vaccine vote for newborns after heated discussion

On September 18, 2025, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) met to discuss the timing of the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns. During this meeting, the committee was expected to vote on whether to delay the initial hepatitis B vaccine dose from birth to one month for infants born to mothers who test negative for the virus. This shot has been recommended at birth in the United States since 1991, significantly reducing hepatitis B infections among infants. However, concerns about vaccine safety and potential changes arose after presentations where committee members debated the current policy. The birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine is crucial in preventing lifelong infections that could lead to liver disease, cancer, and transplants. Pediatricians expressed that delaying the dose could leave infants unprotected in cases where mothers unknowingly carry the virus. Moreover, under the current vaccination program, the incidence of hepatitis B infections in infants has dropped dramatically since the vaccine's implementation. Yet, discussions indicated a need for more rigorous examination of the safety and implications of the birth vaccine dose for newborns. As the ACIP committee met, they found themselves confronting concerns raised by members such as Robert Malone, who criticized the lack of extensive discussions regarding safety. Additionally, Cody Meissner argued against the challenge of proving the absence of harm from vaccines in this context. This filled a portion of the dialogue, despite evidence of the vaccine's proven effectiveness in dramatically reducing infections. As a result, the committee ultimately voted 11-1 to postpone a decision, emphasizing the need for further evaluation. In conjunction with discussing hepatitis B changes, the ACIP also addressed controversies surrounding the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine. Members debated different recommendations for socioeconomic levels, indicating divisions within the agency's decision-making processes. The ACIP's recommendations carry weight in influencing healthcare policies and insurance coverage, which underscores the importance of thorough evaluation of vaccine policies. Following this indecision, the committee will have to revisit its recommendations in light of public health priorities and existing vaccine data in the near future.