The American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians would like to formally express our strong opposition to the recommendation to no longer offer the hepatitis B vaccine as part of routine newborn immunizations. We also oppose the consideration of altering the remaining recommended childhood immunization schedule that has been in place and scientifically validated annually for decades.
The universal birth-dose of the hepatitis B vaccine has long been a vital public health measure for preventing perinatal and early childhood transmission of hepatitis B virus. It serves as a critical safeguard in situations where a mother’s hepatitis B status is unknown, misreported, or where testing or documentation has failed. It also protects horizontal transmission to newborns who come into close contact with individuals carrying the virus who may be asymptomatic. Removing this protection introduces unnecessary risk to all infants at their most vulnerable stage of life and was done without validated evidence showing risk to receiving the vaccine.
Hepatitis B is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection. When acquired in infancy, it carries a 90% likelihood of progressing to chronic disease, which can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma later in life. The newborn dose provides early protection and acts as an essential safety net that has proven effective in reducing transmission rates and long-term health complications.
Additionally, the logistical reality of healthcare delivery must be considered. Not all families have consistent access to prenatal care, accurate testing, or timely medical follow-up. The newborn vaccination protocol ensures equitable protection for all infants, regardless of socioeconomic status, geographic location, or parental awareness of risk.
The American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians fully supports evidence-based medicine from trusted, validated and unbiased sources. Decades of evidence-based research have demonstrated that the hepatitis B vaccine is both safe and effective. Altering the long-standing recommendation for routine neonatal administration was done without supporting evidence to demonstrate new or pre-existing risks to infants while potentially causing a reversal to hard-won public health gains and an increase in infection rates, higher healthcare costs, and preventable illness.
For these reasons, we urge the Committee to reconsider and reverse this recommendation. Maintaining the birth-dose hepatitis B vaccination policy is essential for protecting individual children and ensuring the continued health of our broader community.