A group of independent experts in the U. S. is set to review the data on giving the hepatitis B vaccine to newborns. This comes after a delay in a decision about when babies should get their first dose.

The Vaccine Integrity Project is taking on this task. They want to check the safety and benefits of giving the vaccine within 24 hours of birth. They also want to see what might happen if the dose is delayed.

Back in September, a panel of vaccine advisers to the CDC postponed a vote. They were considering delaying the first dose for women who test negative for hepatitis B. The panel was chosen by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The review will look at decades of research. It will check the safety, effectiveness, and public health impact of the current recommendation. It will also assess the risks of delaying the dose, like gaps in screening and protection for infants.

President Donald Trump has spoken out against giving the vaccine to newborns. He thinks it should be given when children are 12 years old. He argues that hepatitis B is mostly spread through sexual contact.

Hepatitis B is a serious liver disease. It spreads through blood, semen, and other body fluids. Babies who get infected at birth have a high chance of developing a chronic infection. This can lead to serious liver problems like cirrhosis or cancer.

There are six approved hepatitis B vaccines in the U. S. Since vaccination became common, infection rates have dropped by nearly 90%. This shows how effective the vaccine can be.

INFANT VACCINATION

New Look at Hepatitis B Vaccine for Babies

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