Key US Advisory Committee to Vote on Modifying Baby Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendation
Following a hold-up and a particularly heated gathering, a federal vaccine advisory panel was scheduled to decide on Friday on whether to change the long-held guideline that every infant be immunized against hepatitis B.
Heated Debate and a Delayed Ballot
The opening session of the assembly on Thursday was characterized by heated debate over limiting availability to the hepatitis B vaccine for infants and a decision to delay the ballot by a day to allow panelists additional time to scrutinize the phrasing. The group, which guides the national health agency on vaccination protocols, had twice before postponed.
“Is there any concrete proof of harm of giving this immunization before 30 days? Or is this theory?” questioned one adviser.
In reply, another attendee stated, “There is inadequate data about the long-term risk.”
Present Protocol and Possible Consequences
The vaccine is presently advised for every newborn within 24 hours of birth to halt contraction of hepatitis B, which can lead to significant hepatic injury. It has been administered to 1.4 billion people for in excess of thirty years.
The meeting in Atlanta presented no fresh data of harms caused by the vaccine. Specialists note any change to the existing hepatitis B vaccination schedule could have profound and widespread consequences for childhood health in the United States.
Panel Composition and Latest Shifts
The advisory panel can only make recommendations to the leader of the CDC. The group's roster has seen shifts in recent days, with the declaration that the panel's latest chairman would step down for an official role and be succeeded by a cardiac doctor who has been critical of other vaccines.
The board includes several vaccination critics who are in agreement with a aim to revamp – and potentially, in some cases, scrap – longstanding vaccine advisories.
