Morning Checkup | Hepatitis B vaccine may no longer be recommended for newborns

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices are scheduled to meet today and tomorrow in Atlanta. Experts believe the hepatitis B vaccination is one of the key vaccines to be voted on. This will be the first ACIP meeting following the addition of five new members who were appointed earlier this week. 

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a viral infection, that affects the liver. It is spread via body fluids, commonly from mother to child during delivery, in early childhood by a caregiver or an infected child, during sex or needle exposure. Interestingly, the virus can live on surfaces for seven days. An infection can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, liver failure and death. 

How effective is the vaccine?

The hepatitis B vaccine was not recommended for infants and children prior to 1991. At that time, about 18,000 children were infected annually and half of them contracted the virus from their mother during childbirth.

In 2022, there were only 13 cases of infants infected during childbirth here in the US. Hepatitis B infections acquired as an infant lead to chronic liver disease in 95% of cases versus less than 5% of cases when acquired as an adult. 25% of those infants with chronic liver disease will die. After completion of a 3-4 dose series, 98% of healthy infants have full immunity. 

What are the symptoms of hepatitis b?

Infants are less likely to have symptoms. If symptoms do develop, those may not appear before 90 days after exposure.

If ACIP votes to push back the age for the first dose of hepatitis b vaccine, will insurers no longer cover it?

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) stated this week that health plans will continue to cover ACIP recommended vaccines as of September 1, 2025, through the end of 2026. 

About The Author

See author's posts