Hepatitis B Vaccine Eligibility: US Rules Under Trump Administration

# CDC Advisers Limit Hepatitis B Vaccine in Major Policy Shift

Vaccine advisers for the US Centers for Disease Control adn Prevention (CDC) voted on Friday morning to limit hepatitis B vaccines to moast babies in a major move signaling the Trump administration‘s regressive approach to vaccines that have been given safely and effectively for decades.

## What just happened with hepatitis B vaccine policy?

The panel of official vaccine advisers for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended limiting the hepatitis B vaccine,normally given at birth,in an unprecedented decision.

Instead of giving all parents the option to vaccinate their newborns, the advisers now recommend that most parents should have a conversation with a doctor to see if their newborn qualifies for vaccination.

## Who is allowed to get the vaccine now?

Most parents may request the shot for their baby after the birth and they must consult with a doctor to see if they should be vaccinated.after that, the vaccine shouldn’t be given until two months of age or later, the advisers now suggest.

## Why is this so significant?

This is the first time the CDC advisers have limited access to a routine vaccination that has been offered for decades. A few months ago, they also voted to divide a vaccine combining measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and chickenpox (varicella), recommending rather that the two vaccines be given separately.

## What does this mean for newborns and maternal healthcare?

It will be harder to access the shots – hospitals may not stock enough doses if they think parents won’t ask for it, and pediatricians may be wary of giving the shot before two months of age. The discussion and confusion around requirements may also lead parents and doctors to forego the shots entirely.