“As President of the National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF), I am deeply concerned by the vote of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to end the longstanding recommendation that all newborns receive a birth-dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine. This decision marks a significant reversal of a public health measure that has, for decades, protected countless infants from lifelong risk of chronic liver disease, including liver cancer.
For over 30 years, universal newborn vaccination has been one of the most effective tools in reducing Hepatitis B transmission and preventing chronic hepatitis especially in communities where perinatal infection can occur even when the mother’s status appears negative. The safety and efficacy of the Hepatitis B vaccine are well established. Rolling back this recommendation ignores the robust body of evidence demonstrating that early vaccination virtually eliminates the risk of perinatal and early-childhood infection and substantially reduces long-term disease burden.
Changing course on this critical vaccine guidance threatens to undo decades of progress for public health in the United States. Parents should continue to have access to reliable, evidence-based recommendations and infants deserve the strongest protection available from birth.
We call on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director and U.S. health-policy decision-makers to reject this rollback, reaffirm the universal newborn Hepatitis B vaccination schedule, and remain committed to preventing preventable illnesses before they take root. The health and future of our youngest children depend on it.”
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About the National Hispanic Health Foundation
The National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) is dedicated to improving the health of Hispanics and underserved communities by supporting educational advancement, leadership development, and scientific excellence. Through its signature scholarship program and annual galas, NHHF fosters the next generation of culturally competent health professionals.