Studies Project More Neonatal Hep B Infections from CDC Policy

Two new studies published this week in JAMA Pediatrics warn that a recent U.S. policy shift recommending hepatitis B vaccination at birth only for infants perceived to be at higher risk could result in dozens to hundreds of additional neonatal infections each year, along with more chronic cases, deaths and millions of dollars in added healthcare costs.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices approved the change in early December 2025, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopting it shortly after. The updated guidance replaces a longstanding recommendation for universal vaccination within 24 hours of birth. It now advises offering the birth dose only to babies born to mothers who tested positive for hepatitis B or were not screened. For infants of mothers who tested negative during pregnancy, parents may opt to delay the first of three doses until at least 2 months of age.

Researchers from Boston University, the University of Florida, Johns Hopkins University and other institutions modeled scenarios based on current maternal screening rates, which stand at about 86 percent. They projected 69 to 628 additional annual infections depending on birth dose...