New York and the other member states of the Northeast Public Health Collaborative continue to recommend hepatitis B vaccines for infants and children, despite the recent votes of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
“The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) votes do not change vaccination practices within our member jurisdictions,” the collaborative said in a press release today.
The vaccine advisory committee last week voted to recommend hepatitis B at birth only for infants born to women who test positive for the virus, or whose status is unknown. Women whose hepatitis B status is negative should talk with their doctors about vaccination, the recommendation says.
If the committee’s recommendation is approved by CDC Acting Director Jim O’Neill, it will reverse a universal recommendation to start hepatitis B immunization at birth that’s been in place for more than 30 years. The standard immunization practice is credited with dramatically reducing liver diseases caused by hepatitis B.
“Many health care providers—including doctors, medical societies, city and state health departments, and regional health alliances—are rejecting unscientific vaccine recommendations from an influential federal advisory panel, and instead will continue following guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics,” the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy said in a statement.
The immunization practice in effect for the last 34 years has helped reduce the number of hepatitis B infections in children and young people by 99%, according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.
The Northeast Public Health Collaborative continues to recommend that all newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine birth dose within 24 hours of delivery. Newborns born to birth parents who test positive for hepatitis B infection or have an unknown status should still be vaccinated within 12 hours of birth, the collaborative said.
Additionally, all children should still complete the full vaccination series within 18 months. The Collaborative does not recommend use of a serology test to determine whether the full vaccine series should be given.
These recommendations align with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule [download here] and reflect a previously released scientific consensus statement from the Northeast Public Health Collaborative.
“As always, we encourage the public to consult with qualified health care professionals and rely on trusted medical sources when making decisions about their health or the health of their children. We also urge caution in sharing or acting on unverified health claims,” the collaborative said.
The Northeast Public Health Collaborative is a voluntary coalition of public health agencies working together to share expertise, improve coordination, enhance capacity, strengthen regional readiness, and protect evidence-based public health in various member jurisdictions.
The collaborative includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and New York City.
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