Key US Expert Group to Cast Ballots on Modifying Baby Hepatitis B Vaccine Guideline
Following a hold-up and a particularly heated meeting, a federal vaccine advisory panel was expected to vote on Friday on whether to change the long-held guideline that every infant be immunized against hepatitis B.
Intense Discussion and a Deferred Vote
The opening session of the assembly on Thursday was marked by intense argument over limiting availability to the hepatitis B vaccine for babies and a decision to postpone the decision by a day to provide committee members extra time to review the wording. The committee, which advises the national health agency on immunization practices, had previously delayed on two occasions.
“Is there any concrete proof of damage of giving this shot before 30 days? Or is this speculation?” asked one committee member.
In reply, another member stated, “There is inadequate data about the long-term risk.”
Existing Recommendations and Potential Impact
The shot is currently suggested for each baby within 24 hours of delivery to halt contraction of hepatitis B, which can result in serious liver damage. It has been provided to 1.4 billion people for more than three decades.
The meeting in Atlanta provided no fresh data of injuries resulting from the vaccine. Experts say any change to the existing hepatitis B immunization timeline could have profound and widespread repercussions for infant and child health in the United States.
Panel Composition and Recent Changes
The advisory panel can only offer guidance to the director of the CDC. The committee's composition has experienced alterations recently, with the declaration that the committee’s most recent chair would step down for an official role and be replaced by a cardiac doctor who has been skeptical about other immunizations.
The committee includes multiple immunization doubters who support a goal to reform – and perhaps, in some cases, eliminate – longstanding vaccine advisories.
