fairhavenpediatrics

I stand with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Infectious Disease Society of America, the American Academy of Family Physicians, The American Medical Association, American Pharmacists Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology, the National Medical Association, and the overwhelming majority of my healthcare colleagues against ACIP’s recommendation to delay the Hepatitis B vaccine. This is why.

90% of infants that contract Hepatitis B develop liver failure. This is a deadly result of a preventable illness.

Maternal screening rates in the U.S. are less than 80%, and significantly lower in certain socioeconomic populations. A study in 2023 showed that over half a million women in the U.S. did not have any screening for Hep B during their pregnancy.

Only 45% of infant infections are from their mother, so even if the mother is negative, the risk is still high. The United States does not have a strong parental leave program, so these infants are sent to daycare at a much younger age, increasing the risk of transmission. HBV is transmitted through both blood and saliva, so something as common as a bite at daycare could pose a huge risk to an unvaccinated child.

Since 1991 when the univeresal newborn HBV vaccine dose was recommended, the rate of infant and childhood HBV infection has dropped over 95%. HBV used to infect up to 30,000 children yearly. Now it is less than 20.

The vaccine is one of the most studied over the last 30 years. It is completely safe. Studies show no link between the Hepatitis B vaccine and autoimmune disorders, autism, SIDS, or any long term complications. Serious allergic reaction from the vaccine is about 1 per 1 million.