Federal Vaccine Committee Recommends Ending Hepatitis B Vaccination Guidance, NYC Officials Say it's a "Misguided" Decision.
In a 8-3 vote, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended ending the decades-long guidance that all newborns be immunized at birth against hepatitis B. The committee was advanced by vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who argued that because hepatitis B is primarily transmitted during sex, the vaccine is unnecessary for babies unless their mothers are infected.
New York City's top health official, Dr. Michelle Morse, expressed her disappointment and concern over the new guidance, calling it a "misguided" decision that would lead to confusion among parents. According to Morse, there has been no new data presented by the ACIP to suggest that the vaccine should be changed.
The shift in federal guidance does not change the recommended practice in New York City, where all babies will still receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 12 or 24 hours of being born. However, Morse fears that the confusion and misinformation from this vote would have ripple effects, particularly since half of people who have hepatitis B don't know they have it.
The consequences of this decision could be severe, especially in a city like New York where the rate of hepatitis B viral infection has gone down by 99% over the past three decades. Morse warned that the vaccine is safe and there was no new data to suggest otherwise.
The decision also comes at a time when public health institutions are under scrutiny for their decisions. Morse expressed her gratitude to be leading one of the largest local health departments in the country, which has a strong track record of following science and best practices.
As parents consider the implications of this guidance, Morse advises them to consult with their doctors or nurses about any questions they have about vaccines. She also pointed out that public health is local, and New York City can step up to fill the void left by irresponsible federal decisions.
Ultimately, the decision made by the ACIP highlights the need for critical thinking when it comes to vaccine guidance. As Morse said, "Vaccine questions are normal" and parents should not be afraid to ask them. By staying informed and consulting with trusted healthcare professionals, parents can make informed decisions about their children's health.
In a 8-3 vote, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended ending the decades-long guidance that all newborns be immunized at birth against hepatitis B. The committee was advanced by vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who argued that because hepatitis B is primarily transmitted during sex, the vaccine is unnecessary for babies unless their mothers are infected.
New York City's top health official, Dr. Michelle Morse, expressed her disappointment and concern over the new guidance, calling it a "misguided" decision that would lead to confusion among parents. According to Morse, there has been no new data presented by the ACIP to suggest that the vaccine should be changed.
The shift in federal guidance does not change the recommended practice in New York City, where all babies will still receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 12 or 24 hours of being born. However, Morse fears that the confusion and misinformation from this vote would have ripple effects, particularly since half of people who have hepatitis B don't know they have it.
The consequences of this decision could be severe, especially in a city like New York where the rate of hepatitis B viral infection has gone down by 99% over the past three decades. Morse warned that the vaccine is safe and there was no new data to suggest otherwise.
The decision also comes at a time when public health institutions are under scrutiny for their decisions. Morse expressed her gratitude to be leading one of the largest local health departments in the country, which has a strong track record of following science and best practices.
As parents consider the implications of this guidance, Morse advises them to consult with their doctors or nurses about any questions they have about vaccines. She also pointed out that public health is local, and New York City can step up to fill the void left by irresponsible federal decisions.
Ultimately, the decision made by the ACIP highlights the need for critical thinking when it comes to vaccine guidance. As Morse said, "Vaccine questions are normal" and parents should not be afraid to ask them. By staying informed and consulting with trusted healthcare professionals, parents can make informed decisions about their children's health.
this is so worrisome... i just dont get why they would do this 
the numbers are there, it's down by 99% in nyc over the past three decades 
and now they're saying its not necessary? that's just logic gone out the window 
what about all those babies who get vaccinated and are protected? isn't that still relevant? 
i need some sources on this, where did acip get their data from? was there any new research or studies that say otherwise? 
. I mean, think about it... the ACIP is basically saying that just because hepatitis B is transmitted through sex, we shouldn't vaccinate babies against it? Like, what's next? Are we gonna say that because a disease can be spread through casual contact with someone who has it, we should stop washing our hands or something 
? It just doesn't add up.
. It's like, we need to think about the bigger picture here - not just our individual babies, but the entire community.
. I mean, what's driving the ACIP's decision? Are they really that skeptical of science? And if so, shouldn't we be having that conversation with them instead of just accepting their decision? 
the ACIP's decision is super misguided 
i mean come on hepatitis B can be transmitted through sex but that doesn't mean we shouldn't vaccinate babies 
especially since most people with the virus don't even know they have it 
and parents should def consult with their docs about any questions they have 
. But then again, my mum has Hep B too and she got it from her husband when they were in college 
. I guess what bothers me is that the ACIP's decision could lead to parents not vaccinating their babies because of some misinformation 
. My friend's cousin actually stopped getting vaccinated after hearing about this news, and now he's thinking about getting Hep B too 
. It's crazy how one bad decision can have so many ripple effects 
. We need to stay informed and ask our doctors questions if we're unsure about anything 
how this vote might affect public health institutions and people's perception of vaccines...
. but what if we take it to an extreme and start questioning vaccines in general? it's like playing with fire 
. i mean, what if we wait till someone contracts hepatitis B before giving them the vaccine? would that be any better than just doing it from birth? 
. parents are already stressed enough with their kids' lives, and now they're gonna have to deal with this new guidance too? it's like adding more fuel to the fire 
.
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. I mean, why fix what ain't broke, right? But seriously, this could lead to some real confusion for parents who are trying to make informed decisions about their kids' health. And it's not like there's no data – Morse says there hasn't been any new info presented by the ACIP, but that's not exactly reassuring 
. And what's with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.? He sounds like the vaccination version of a conspiracy theorist 
. But seriously, NYC's got this. They're still gonna keep those little ones safe, and if some folks are confused, they can just ask their doc, like Morse said 
. We gotta stay vigilant, but not crazy 
.
. The fact that the ACIP is recommending ending it just because of sex transmission worries me 
. Babies are not born with a high risk of contracting HBV, and the vaccine has been proven to be super effective in preventing serious health issues for them 
. The fact that NYC's hepatitis B viral infection rate has gone down by 99% over three decades is amazing 
.
, and parents should consult their doctors or nurses about any concerns they have. I just wish the federal government would trust science a bit more 
. The ripple effects of this decision could be severe, especially for people who don't even know they're infected with HBV 
anyway, i'm glad nyc is stepping up to take care of its own citizens 
