Answering Key Questions on Hepatitis B Birth Dose at a Critical Time
Noah
by John Ward (Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination) and Karen Ernst (Voices for Vaccines)
On December 4th, the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will consider rescinding the recommendation for the first shot newborns usually receive: the hepatitis B vaccine. Given within 24 hours of birth, this proven vaccine protects babies during a critical window of exposure to a virus that can cause liver failure and cancer. Reversing this long-established practice would...