PRESS RELEASE

BCHD Reiterates Importance of Hepatitis B Birth Dose for All Newborns: Guidance Aligns with the American Academy of Pediatrics

PRESS RELEASE

BALTIMORE, MD (Friday, December 5, 2025) – This morning, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices decided to remove their longstanding recommendation to vaccinate all newborns for hepatitis B. The committee’s decision eliminates a recommendation originally put in place by the same committee in 1991, which is credited with reducing acute cases of hep B in children by 99%. The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) is firmly committed to maintaining the hepatitis B vaccine schedule to protect newborns. BCHD remains committed to following scientific fact and is steadfast in our mission to ensure an equitable, just, and well Baltimore.

The previous hepatitis B vaccine schedule calls for a birth dose within 24 hours of delivery, regardless of the hepatitis B infection status of the birth parent, and that all children complete the full vaccination series within 18 months (a full series can be three or four doses, depending on the manufacturer). The hepatitis B vaccine is considered one of the safest and most effective vaccines ever made. BCHD’s recommendation to maintain the previous schedule, based on the extensive review of current scientific data and medical professional guidance related to the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns and aligns with the American Academy of Pediatrics' Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule. Vaccination within 24 hours of birth, followed by additional doses, is highly effective at preventing newborn infection and protecting children for life.

“This week’s federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) discussion and vote to change the hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for infants is an alarm bell for all who hold rigorous, evidence-based science as their North Star,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani. “The hepatitis B vaccine has been tested extensively for safety and efficacy for decades, and when administered within 24 hours of birth, is highly effective in preventing newborn infection. Delaying the vaccine or not completing the full series has no known safety benefits for children. The ACIP’s action will lead to worse health outcomes for Maryland newborns.”

“As a pediatrician, providing our youngest Baltimoreans with vaccines helps us make sure they live long, healthy, and full lives,” said Baltimore City Commissioner of Health Dr. Michelle Taylor. "The Baltimore City Health Department strongly recommends maintaining the current hepatitis B birth vaccine for newborns. Delaying this effective vaccine only puts infants at risk."

 “We are committed to upholding the extensive scientific data that vaccines for children are one of the most critical components of public health,” said BCHD Assistant Commissioner for Maternal and Child Health Rebecca Dineen, who is also a co-lead of B’more for Healthy Babies, a citywide initiative to improve maternal and child health. “B'more for Healthy Babies has built a system of evidence-based care that gives expectant families and babies easy access to quality health care – this includes vaccines. We are a trusted resource for expecting parents as they navigate the ongoing changes that impact their lives and those of their children.”

This recommendation also reflects a consensus statement from the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, a coalition of public health agencies working together to protect evidence-based public health. Maryland is part of this collaborative.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can lead to both acute and chronic illness. Without proper prevention and care, hepatitis B can cause:

• cirrhosis, a chronic liver condition
• liver failure
• liver cancer
• in severe cases, death

The hepatitis B vaccine birth dose remains the most effective way to protect newborns from lifelong infection and serious liver disease. The Baltimore City Health Department urges all providers and birthing facilities to continue following these evidence-based recommendations to safeguard the health of Baltimore City’s youngest residents. The Baltimore City Health Department also encourages all individuals to consult with their medical providers, who are aware of their medical history, when making medical decisions.

For additional information, please visit the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Maryland Department of Health. The Maryland Department of Health also issued a standing order, essentially a prescription, to ensure hepatitis B vaccine access for infants and children ages 0-18 across Maryland, as well as guidance to parents and caregivers on the recommended childhood vaccine schedule. For more information about B’more for Healthy Babies, please visit their website.