Oregon Newborns Will Still Get Hepatitis B Vaccine as West Coast Alliance Rejects New CDC Panel Decision
The recently formed West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) has strongly objected to and will not endorse the CDC’s decision on Friday to drop Hepatitis B vaccinations for newborns.
Source: CDC ACIP background materials on Hepatitis B and the birth dose
Dailytidings.com
The federal CDC vaccine advisory panel consists of newly appointed anti-vacc supporters appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who fired the previous panelists for being pro-vaccines.
Not All Kennedy-Appointed CDC Panelists Approve of the Decision
The new CDC panelists were not, however, all in agreement, as a vote of 8-3 illustrated dissension among Kennedy’s newly-appointed members. Those who opposed the withdrawal of the Hepatitis B vaccination say it will lead to an increase in liver cancer and disease throughout the U.S.
The WCHA members from Oregon, California, and Washington ensure that public health recommendations are guided by science and safety at a time when the CDC is no longer transparent in addressing public health challenges.
In a statement, WCHA says Hepatitis B is a highly infectious virus that causes serious illness and death.
All Oregon Newborns Will Receive the Vaccination
WCHA supports the administration of the vaccine to all newborns within 24 hours of birth, and this must be followed by completion of the vaccine series. Babies must weigh no less than 4 pounds, 7 ounces.
WCHA points out that its recommendation aligns with respected medical organizations – the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
| Item | Longstanding approach | New ACIP-backed wording |
|---|---|---|
| Who gets the birth dose | All healthy newborns | Babies of HBV-positive mothers or unknown status |
| Policy rationale | Safety net for missed screening or documentation gaps | More targeted approach for families |
| Public health concern | Reduced risk of perinatal and early-life infection | Critics warn this may increase missed-risk cases |
| Next step | Established clinical standard | Requires CDC director review for final federal guidance |
The health watchdog organization also points out that Hepatitis B vaccinations are universally endorsed, and are a strategy that has reduced infections of the disease in the U.S. by 99 percent.
The new CDC ruling is that newborns will only be vaccinated against Hepatitis B if their mothers test positive for the infection or have an unknown medical status.