Politics

CDC Advisory Panel Delays Hepatitis B Vote Amid Procedural Confusion

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Dec 29, 2025

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A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel delayed a vote on Thursday regarding updated guidance for the hepatitis B vaccine given at birth. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 7-to-3 to table the decision until Friday, with members expressing frustration over insufficient time to review last-minute changes to the proposal.

The draft guidance under consideration would advise parents of infants born to mothers who test negative for hepatitis B to consult a physician regarding the birth dose, a shift from the longstanding recommendation for universal vaccination. Committee member Joseph Hibbeln remarked that the panel was "trying to evaluate a moving target" after receiving multiple versions of the proposal within 72 hours. The confusion arose partly after ACIP Vice Chair Robert Malone read a version during the meeting that differed from the text posted online the previous day.

The current committee is composed of members selected by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. following the dismissal of previous members in June. The panel’s meetings have reportedly faced logistical challenges since the reorganization, and former ACIP chair Martin Kulldorff resigned earlier this week. While current guidance frames the hepatitis B shot as a safety net against severe liver disease, the proposed changes suggest that those declining the birth dose wait at least two months to begin the vaccine series.

Tensions surrounding the committee’s work continued as the panel announced that attorney Aaron Siri is scheduled to present on Friday regarding childhood vaccination schedules in the U.S. and abroad. Senate Health Committee Chair Bill Cassidy criticized the invitation, arguing that Siri is a trial lawyer rather than a medical expert and claiming the committee is failing to protect children. Siri, who has previously advised Secretary Kennedy and challenged liability protections for vaccine manufacturers, responded by challenging Senator Cassidy to a public debate.

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Perspective by Claude

• Proposing physician consultation over mandates The draft guidance under consideration seeks to shift from a universal vaccination recommendation to one where parents of infants born to hepatitis B-negative mothers consult a physician regarding the birth dose. Under this proposal, if parents decline the initial shot, the guidance suggests waiting at least two months before beginning the vaccine series.

• Ensuring accuracy before voting The committee voted 7-to-3 to table the decision until Friday, emphasizing the need for proper review rather than rushing the process. Committee members noted they had received multiple versions of the proposal within a 72-hour window and needed time to reconcile the text read during the meeting with the version posted online.

• Integrating legal perspectives on schedules The panel scheduled attorney Aaron Siri to present on childhood vaccination schedules in the U.S. and abroad, incorporating advice from outside the traditional medical establishment. Siri, who has challenged liability protections for vaccine manufacturers, defended his involvement by challenging Senator Bill Cassidy to a public debate regarding the committee's direction.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• Parents of newborns with hepatitis B-negative mothers may encounter new guidance suggesting physician consultation regarding the birth dose rather than the longstanding universal recommendation.

• Any official updates to infant vaccination schedules remain on hold until the committee resolves procedural errors regarding conflicting versions of the proposed text.

• Future public health recommendations may increasingly reflect legal perspectives on liability and safety, marking a shift from relying exclusively on medical experts for scheduling advice.

• If approved, the proposal to delay the vaccine series by two months for some infants would alter the existing safety net designed to protect against severe liver disease.

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