Archive · 17 Dec 2025
CDC Updates Hepatitis B Vaccine Guidance for Newborns
The CDC has changed its advice about the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns.
Before, all babies were supposed to get the vaccine within 24 hours of birth.
Now, only babies whose mothers have hepatitis B or whose status is unknown should get the vaccine right away.
Parents of other babies can choose to wait and give the vaccine later, after talking to their doctor.
Some experts are worried that this change might lead to more babies getting sick with hepatitis B, which can cause serious liver problems.
They say the new advice doesn't follow the science.
But the CDC says it's giving parents more choice about what's best for their babies.
CDC ends 30-year-old recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination of newborns within 24 hours of birth.
New guideline suggests vaccination only for newborns of mothers with positive or unknown hepatitis B status.
Parents of other newborns can choose to delay vaccination until at least two months old, in consultation with healthcare providers.
Experts express concern that the change may lead to an increase in preventable hepatitis B infections among children.
Hepatitis B infections in the US have declined by nearly 90% since widespread vaccination began.
- Who
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine advisory panel
- What
- Change in hepatitis B vaccine recommendation for newborns
- When
- Recent decision, ending a 30-year-old recommendation
- Where
- United States
- Why
- To restore balance of informed consent for parents of newborns with low risk of hepatitis B
- Organization
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Previous Recommendation
- Universal vaccination for infants within 24 hours of birth since 1991
- New Recommendation
- Vaccine only for newborns of mothers with positive or unknown hepatitis B status
- Hepatitis B Transmission
- Mother to child during birth, early childhood, or through contact with blood/body fluids
- Hepatitis B Infection Rate Decline
- Fell nearly 90% in the US from 9.6 per 100,000 to about 1 per 100,000 in 2018