CDC Hepatitis B vaccine recommendations ain't broke, so they don't need a 'fix'

View OpEd: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/contributors/2025/10/22/cdc-hepatitis-b-hbv-vaccine-kentucky-healthcare/86670970007/

References:

1. Sandul AL, Rapposelli K, Nyendak M, Kim M. Updated Recommendation for Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination in Adults Aged 19-59 Years - United States, 2024. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024 Dec 5;73(48):1106. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7348a3. PMID: 39636783; PMCID: PMC11620335. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39636783/

2. Perinatal Hepatitis B. Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. 2025. Accessed Oct. 22, 2025. https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/idb/Pages/perinatal-hepatitis-b.aspx

3. Hepatitis B virus: a comprehensive strategy for eliminating transmission in the United States through universal childhood vaccination. Recommendations of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 1991 Nov 22;40(RR-13):1-25. PMID: 1835756.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00033405.htm

4. Reddy S. Hep-B Is the Only Vaccine Given at Birth. Why Doctors Say It Can’t Wait. The Wall Street Journal. Oct. 2, 2025. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/hep-b-is-the-only-vaccine-given-at-birth-why-doctors-say-it-can-t-wait/ar-AA1NLJYq

5. Rahman K. Republican Senators Clash Over Vaccines. Newsweek. Sept. 1, 2025. https://www.newsweek.com/republican-senators-clash-vaccines-2122565

6. Szabo L. Hepatitis B vaccine has sharply cut infections in children. Why are some against it? 4 Los Angeles. Sept. 9, 2025. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/hepatitis-b-vaccine-children-robert-kennedy-jr/3775754/

7. US Preventive Services Task Force; Owens DK, Davidson KW, Krist AH, et al. Screening for Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Pregnant Women: US Preventive Services Task Force Reaffirmation Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2019 Jul 23;322(4):349-354. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.9365. Erratum in: JAMA. 2019 Sep 17;322(11):1108. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.12797. PMID: 31334800. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2738558

8. Associated Press. WATCH: Without new evidence, Trump and his health officials push unproven link between acetaminophen and autism. PBS News. Sept. 22, 2025. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-trump-expected-to-make-announcement-on-autism

9. Hepatitis B Vaccine Administration. CDC. Sept. 18, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-b/hcp/vaccine-administration/index.html

10. Clinical Guidance for Perinatal Hepatitis B Testing. CDC. Jan. 31, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-b/hcp/perinatal-provider-overview/clinical-testing-guidelines.html

11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Impact of the 1999 AAP/USPHS joint statement on thimerosal in vaccines on infant hepatitis B vaccination practices. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2001 Feb 16;50(6):94-7. PMID: 11263794. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5006a3.htm

12. Din ES, Wasley A, Jacques-Carroll L, Sirotkin B, Wang S. Estimating the number of births to hepatitis B virus-infected women in 22 states, 2006. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2011 Jul;30(7):575-9. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e31820cd65c. PMID: 21266937. https://journals.lww.com/pidj/abstract/2011/07000/estimating_the_number_of_births_to_hepatitis_b.9.aspx

13. Kolasa MS, Tsai Y, Xu J, Fenlon N, Schillie S. Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Testing Among Pregnant Women, United States 2014. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2017 Jul;36(7):e175-e180. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000001516. PMID: 28030527. https://journals.lww.com/pidj/abstract/2017/07000/hepatitis_b_surface_antigen_testing_among_pregnant.4.aspx

------------- Other References ------------

1. Cobern J. Why doctors say the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine is still necessary. ABC News. Sept. 18, 2025. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/doctors-birth-dose-hepatitis-vaccine/story?id=125627484

2. Universal Infant Vaccine Birth Dose Saves Thousands of Lives: A response from the Hepatitis B Foundation. Hepatitis B Foundation. June 25, 2025. https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/universal-infant-vaccine-birth-dose-saves-thousands-of-lives-a-response-from-the-hepatitis-b-foundation/

3. Schmeck HM. Vaccine for Hepatitis B, judged highly effective is approved by F.D.A. The New York Times. Nov. 17, 1881. https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/17/science/vaccine-for-hepatitis-b-judged-highly-effective-is-approved-by-fda.html

4. Boffey PM. U.S. Approves a genetically altered vaccine. The New York Times. July 24, 1986. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/24/us/us-approves-a-genetically-altered-vaccine.html

5. Barnett, ED. Give first dose of Hep B vaccine within 24 hours of birth: AAP. AAP News. Aug. 28, 2017. https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/10295/Give-first-dose-of-HepB-vaccine-within-24-hours-of?autologincheck=redirected