CDC Will No Longer Recommend Hepatitis B Vaccine for All Newborns
December 5th, 2025Via: Focal Points:
In a landmark decision, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 8–3 on Friday to eliminate the universal recommendation that all newborns receive a Hepatitis B vaccine at birth — a policy in place since 1991.
The new guidance keeps the birth dose only for infants whose mothers test positive for Hepatitis B or whose status is unknown. For all other newborns, ACIP now recommends parent-directed, individualized decision-making, with vaccination suggested no earlier than two months.
The vote followed discussion of evidence showing that U.S. newborns face extremely low risk of Hepatitis B transmission absent maternal infection, and that past declines in disease were driven largely by improved blood screening and medical practices rather than universal infant dosing.
Three dissenting members warned of potential harm, but the majority concluded that a blanket recommendation is no longer scientifically justified.
