A federal vaccine committee has voted to scrap universal hepatitis B shots for newborns. For decades, the government has advised that all babies be vaccinated against liver infection right after birth. The effort was largely seen as a public health success. But an advisory panel, whose current members were all appointed by Health Secretary Robert […]
Audio
Federal advisors vote to stop hepatitis B shots for newborns
A federal vaccine committee has voted to scrap universal hepatitis B shots for newborns. For decades, the government has advised that all babies be vaccinated against liver infection right after birth. The effort was largely seen as a public health success. But an advisory panel, whose current members were all appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is no longer supporting the hepatitis B vaccine recommendation. The decision was met by stiff opposition from a chorus of medical experts and public health leaders.