The CDC committee has decided to restrict hepatitis B vaccination to infants with positive mothers, reversing previous recommendations.

A recent decision by the CDC Advisory Committee, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has sparked controversy, recommending vaccination against hepatitis B only for infants whose mothers have tested positive for the virus. This change reverses the 1991 recommendation, which provided universal protection for all newborns. In the case of mothers with negative results, parents will decide together with the doctor whether and when to start vaccination.

Public health experts criticize this measure, arguing that it will create barriers to vaccine use. Additionally, the decision affects health insurance coverage in the U.S. and guides doctors in choosing vaccines. The World Health Organization continues to recommend early vaccination for all newborns. This change comes after another controversial decision regarding COVID-19 vaccines, highlighting a trend of modifying vaccination policies in the U.S.