CDC Vaccine Panel Postpones Vote on Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns Amid Internal Disagreements

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has postponed a scheduled vote on the administration of the hepatitis B vaccine to newborns. The decision to delay came after committee members expressed confusion over the voting language and internal disagreements during a meeting held on Thursday.

The current CDC recommendation, in place since 1991, advises that all newborns receive the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. The committee is now considering a policy shift that would recommend the birth dose only for infants born to mothers who test positive for hepatitis B. For other newborns, the decision would be left to parents and healthcare providers, with the vaccine potentially administered at two months of age.

This proposed change marks a significant departure from longstanding public health policy. Critics, including major medical groups, argue that the changes are not based on strong scientific evidence and could undermine efforts to prevent hepatitis B infections. They have accused the committee of promoting unfounded safety concerns and engaging in "political theater."

The meeting was marked by unusual conflict and chaos. Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, a psychiatrist and voting member of the committee, stated, "This is the third version of the questions that we have received in 72 hours, and we're trying to evaluate a moving target."

The committee's chair, Dr. Kirk Milhoan, was not present for the decision to postpone the vote. Vice chair Dr. Robert Malone noted that Milhoan was "about to jump on a plane to go to Asia and would not be available, I believe, for [the discussion] tomorrow."

The ACIP is expected to reconvene on Friday to revisit the discussion and potentially vote on the proposed changes to the hepatitis B vaccination schedule for newborns.