Hepatitis B Vaccine's Initial Dose Remains Crucial, According to Medical Professionals
In a move that has raised concerns among health professionals and advocacy groups, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has cast doubt about the necessity of the hepatitis B shot recommended at birth. This recommendation, which has been in place since 1991, has been instrumental in preventing the spread of the virus among newborns.
The Hepatitis B Foundation has voiced grave concern that this recommendation may be reversed by the current ACIP. If this were to happen, over half of all American kids, who are eligible for shots through the Vaccines for Children program in 2023, may lose access to the vital vaccination.
The CDC's Vaccine Advisory Committee members supported the recommendation to vaccinate newborns against Hepatitis B in 2021, citing the vaccine's safety and high effectiveness at preventing lifelong infection. The vaccine, considered one of the cornerstones of hepatitis B prevention policy, has been in use since 1981, with Merck, one of the FDA-approved manufacturers, distributing over 330 million doses worldwide since its approval in 1986.
The virus, which is contagious and spreads through contact with blood or body fluids from an infected person, can lead to severe health complications. A child infected at birth with hepatitis B has a 90% chance of developing chronic active hepatitis B, and 25% of those children will go on to die of the disease.
Before 1991, hepatitis B shots were only given to infants considered high risk. However, this strategy missed many cases, as evidenced by the temporary pause in the universal recommendation in 1999, in favor of a risk-based recommendation. During that time, at least one child in Michigan died of hepatitis B infection due to improper documentation.
A universal hepatitis B vaccine strategy was adopted to ensure no high-risk infants were missed. This strategy has been successful, with Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy praising its success. Dr. Su Wang, a primary care doctor living with chronic hepatitis B, believes that the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine could have helped prevent her infection, as she likely contracted the virus from a family member when she was a baby.
It's estimated that up to 2.4 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B in the U.S., many of whom are asymptomatic and unaware of their diagnosis. Until we have a cure for Hepatitis B, it is critically important to prevent it.
The ACIP's meeting, which includes 12 members hand-picked by health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., is scheduled to discuss the hepatitis B vaccine recommended at birth. American health insurers have pledged to cover the cost of all vaccines based on previous recommendations by the ACIP. However, this may leave a critical gap for kids who rely on no-cost vaccines through the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) if the recommendation is reversed.
In light of these developments, it is crucial that the ACIP carefully considers the potential impact of any changes to the current hepatitis B vaccination recommendation at birth. The health and well-being of countless children could be at stake.
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