CDC Drops Universal Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns: What You Need to Know

In a controversial decision that has shaken the medical community, the CDC officially ended its 34-year-old policy recommending universal hepatitis B vaccination for all newborns within 24 hours of birth.nbcnews+1​

What Changed?

On December 5, 2025, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 8-3 to overturn the long-standing recommendation established in 1991. Acting CDC Director Jim O'Neill formally adopted this guidance on December 15, 2025, and finalized implementation on January 4, 2026.cdc+4​

New Guidelines:

• Mothers who test negative for hepatitis B should now "consult with healthcare providers" about whether newborns need the vaccine at birthscientificamerican+1​
• If babies don't receive the birth dose, they should wait until at least 2 months old for their first hepatitis B vaccinecen.acs+1​
• Babies born to mothers who test positive or have unknown status should still receive the vaccine within 24 hourspbs+1​

Why the Controversy?

The Medical Community's Concerns

Public health experts have strongly condemned the decision, warning it could reverse decades of progress. Since the universal birth dose policy began in 1991, pediatric hepatitis B cases dropped 99% from 1990 to 2019.bbc+1​

Key concerns include:

1. Infection Risk Increases

• Not all pregnant women are tested for hepatitis Bnbcnews​
• The virus can be transmitted from mother to child during childbirthnbcnews​
• There is currently no cure for hepatitis Bnbcnews​

2. Lack of Scientific Basis
The discussions within the advisory committee were marked by "misinformation and selective data" that disregarded extensive evidence supporting the vaccine's safety and efficacy. Critics say the change has "no scientific basis".cen.acs+1​

3. US Becomes Global Outlier
Nearly 120 countries worldwide recommend the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine following World Health Organization guidelines. The US is now moving away from global medical consensus.cen.acs​

Political Context

The decision came after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed new members to the vaccine advisory committee, replacing previous members. Committee member Retsef Levi, who supported the change, argued the US policy was "misaligned" with other nations.undark+2​

Acting CDC Director Jim O'Neill stated the change was about "restoring informed consent to parents" whose newborns "face little risk".nbcnews​

Expert Opposition

Even Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician who supported Kennedy's confirmation, called the change "a mistake," stating: "As a liver doctor who has treated patients with hepatitis B for decades, this change to the vaccine schedule is a mistake. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective".bbc​

Multiple ACIP panel members expressed deep concerns during the contentious two-day meeting. Dr. Joseph Hibbeln described the voting options as "incredibly problematic," while Dr. Meissner criticized members for acting on "baseless skepticism".bbc​

What Happens Next?

Many states are now turning to alternative guidance from organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which continues to advocate for the first hepatitis B dose within 24 hours of birth.nbcnews​

Federal officials claim the changes won't create new out-of-pocket costs for parents, and many private insurers have committed to covering shots through the end of 2026. However, vaccine experts have raised questions about disruptions to combination vaccines and future costs.undark​

The Bottom Line

This policy change represents one of the most significant departures from established medical consensus in recent CDC history. Medical experts warn that delaying hepatitis B vaccination could lead to increased infections and potentially more deaths from liver disease and cancer in the coming years.undark+1​

Parents concerned about this change should consult their pediatrician and review guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which maintains its recommendation for universal newborn hepatitis B vaccination.nbcnews​