Washington, DC – Today’s decision by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to change the hepatitis B vaccine schedule for infants backtracks on decades of evidence-based science. In a rare and controversial move, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIPS) has stepped away from recommending a childhood vaccine that has a proven track record of efficacy and safety.
“Over the last two days, the public has watched from the sidelines as ACIP has moved in a confused and headlong way to reach today’s result,” observed Jane Perkins, Litigation Director at the National Health Law Program. “No new evidence was introduced to support this change, and multiple committee members noted that they were unsure of what they were being asked to vote on. Although today’s action concerns hepatitis B, it signals a broader effort to weaken routine childhood immunization policy. NHeLP urges HHS to reaffirm its responsibility to protect children and uphold evidence-based public health practice.”
In November, NHeLP and Democracy forward submitted comments to ACIP regarding the hepatitis B vaccine. The comment letter can be found here.
