US Edition
CDC delay of infant hepatitis B shot likely to raise infections, studies show
Researchers found that delaying the hepatitis B birth dose could add more than 1,000 infant infections when coverage falls to 10%, according to the model.
- A new Cornell University study published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics warns that delaying the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine increases infant infections and significantly reduces survival rates and quality of life for newborns.
- In December 2025, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to delay the first hepatitis B dose for infants whose birth parent tests negative for HBV, reversing a 2018 recommendation to vaccinate all infants within 24 hours of birth.
- Modeling by Noele Nelson projected costs ranging from $16 million to $370 million depending on vaccination schedules; when coverage dropped to 10%, the model projected more than 1,000 additional infections versus just over 100 at 80% coverage.
- Infectious disease expert Rachel Epstein cautions that marginal reductions in birth-dose coverage disproportionately increase transmission risks among unscreened infants, while epidemiologist Margaret Lind noted lower coverage leads to increased infections even under optimistic screening assumptions.
- Reviewing four decades of data, Nelson found no evidence of serious adverse reactions including seizures or mortality, concluding "we don't find any advantage in delaying the first dose" and favoring universal birth vaccination.
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Media Tip Sheet: New Studies Warn CDC-Backed Delay in Newborn Hepatitis B Shot Could Increase Infections, Costs | Media Relations | The George Washington University
New research out today in JAMA Pediatrics raises urgent concerns about a recent federal vaccine policy shift that could have lasting consequences for children’s health.
Impact of removing the universal hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination in the US
About The Study: This study estimated the impact of replacing universal hepatitis B virus (HBV) birth-dose vaccination with a targeted recommendation on neonatal and subsequent chronic HBV infections in the U.S. The findings indicate that the targeted birth-dose vaccine recommendation will likely increase neonatal infections unless maternal screening rises substantially or vaccination coverage among infants of unscreened mothers exceeds cur…
New study suggests reduced newborn hepatitis B vaccination coverage may increase infant infections
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection acquired at birth or during early infancy can lead to lifelong health complications, including chronic liver disease. Despite longstanding recommendations for prenatal screening, an estimated 12% to 16% of pregnant individuals in the U.S. are not screened for hepatitis B. This gap leaves a portion of newborns at risk for undetected exposure. Vaccination at birth serves as a safeguard, particularly for infants bo…
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