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ACIP rescinds universal recommendation for hepatitis B vaccine dose at birth

December 5, 2025

On December 5, 2025, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 8–3 to end its 30-year recommendation for routine hepatitis B vaccination within 24 hours of birth. Pending CDC director sign-off, the birth dose would be limited to infants born to mothers who are HBsAg-positive. If the mother is HBsAg-negative or her status cannot be confirmed, ACIP recommends shared decision-making in consultation with a health care provider for parents deciding when or if to administer the HBV vaccine. For infants who skip the birth dose, ACIP recommends initiating the series no earlier than 2 months of age. In a separate 6–4 vote (with one abstention), ACIP recommended that clinicians discuss post-vaccination serologic testing after the first dose to confirm protective antibody response.

Sources:

Breen, K. (2025, December 5). CBS News. CDC vaccine panel votes to stop recommending birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-acip-vaccine-panel-hepatitis-b-birth-dose/

Huang, P. (2025, December 5). NPR. CDC advisers vote to overturn decades-long policy on hepatitis B vaccine for infants. https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/12/05/nx-s1-5634004/cdc-hepatitis-b-vaccine-acip-meeting

Goodman, B. (2025, December 5). CNN. CDC advisers vote in support of major change to childhood vaccination. https://www.cnn.com/health/live-news/cdc-vaccine-meeting-hepatitis-b-12-05-25