CDC panel recommends delaying birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine

I tend to say good news! Possibly, this hepatitis B vaccination of babies is not critical.

Fact is that vaccination of babies is riskier than probably at any later age!

Apparently, babies contract hepatitis B mostly from their infected mothers and not otherwise! So if the mother is negative, why vaccinate the baby?

According to Google: "While the goal is universal vaccination, Hepatitis B birth dose coverage in the U.S. has hovered around 75-80%, meaning up to 25% of newborns miss this crucial first shot, often due to parental refusal or provider issues, despite recommendations for a full series in infancy. Meaning over 3.5 million infants each year get vaccinated"

"A panel that advises on U.S. vaccine policy voted on Friday to recommend a delay in when most babies begin to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, overturning a 30-year-old policy that has contributed to a massive decline in cases of the virus.

The vote, which followed a day of contentious discussion, was 8-3. Specifically, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that parents discuss with their doctors whether to give the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, or at all, and that those who choose to do so wait to begin the vaccine series until their baby is at least 2 months old. That recommendation applies to mothers who test negative for hepatitis B during their pregnancy. ..."

RFK Jr.'s ACIP panel recommends delay in newborn hepatitis B vaccination | STAT "The change is likely to increase the number of people who develop chronic infections and liver cancer"