A committee appointed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reviewing the safety of the decades-old hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, a move that has caused significant alarm among American medical and scientific communities.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is meeting in Atlanta for a two-day session expected to consider whether to delay the shots, which have been recommended within the first 24 hours of birth since 1991. The review is part of a broader safety assessment of several vaccines initiated under Kennedy, a long-time vaccine skeptic.
“Any changes this ACIP makes will certainly not be based in facts or evidence, but rather ideology,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, a pediatric infectious disease specialist critical of the committee’s new direction.
A Clash Over Science and Policy
Proponents of the current policy, including leading pediatricians, argue the vaccine is critical. They note that 90% of babies infected with hepatitis B develop chronic liver disease, with a quarter dying from the infection. Newborns can contract the virus from their mothers during pregnancy or childbirth, not just through sexual transmission later in life.
However, the review has political backing. Former President Donald Trump has publicly insisted children should not be vaccinated until age 12, calling the newborn shot unnecessary. This stance aligns with anti-vaccine groups but is contradicted by a recent University of Minnesota analysis of over 400 studies, which found “critical risks” in changing the current recommendations.
Broader Implications and Eroding Trust
The committee’s influence is waning as its decisions face withering criticism. Several Democratic-led states have announced they will no longer follow ACIP recommendations, forming their own advisory panels instead.
“States are forming their own advisory committees because they don’t trust anything that’s going on under the auspices of Robert F. Kennedy Jr,” said pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit.
The outcome of the review carries significant weight, as federal vaccine guidelines often determine insurance coverage in the U.S., where the cost of a single vaccine can run into hundreds of dollars.
Tags:
Hepatitis B vaccine, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, ACIP, Vaccination policy, Newborn health, Public health, US Health
Disclaimer:
This article reports on an ongoing policy review and presents the conflicting viewpoints of government appointees and the established medical community. CDA News presents this information factually and does not endorse any specific medical advice or policy.
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