by
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian
Under vaccine-skeptic Robert Kennedy Jr., head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending a change in when babies should receive the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, delaying it by at least two months for most mothers who test negative for the virus.
The previous standing recommendation called for the vaccine to be administered within 24 hours of birth.
That said, Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, is recommending that patients and doctors essentially ignore the CDC’s revised vaccination schedule and instead follow the child and adolescent immunization schedule produced by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) or the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), which calls for the hepatitis B shot at birth.
“Public health experts across the country, including myself, are not in agreement with recent federal vaccine recommendations,” said Bagdasarian in a statement. “For decades, vaccines have played a critical role in the prevention and control of infectious diseases and have led to the elimination of several diseases and significant reductions in illnesses and fatalities. As the state’s chief medical executive, it is my duty to protect and promote public health, and I find the vaccine schedule recommendations produced by the AAP and AAFP well-evidenced and based on rigorous review. This Standing Recommendation will help encourage vaccine accessibility and availability in Michigan.”
Seven major health systems within Michigan, which operate 84 of the state's 129 acute-care hospitals told the Detroit Free Press they will continue to offer a birth dose to the families of all newborns for hepatits B. The health systems include Corewell Health, Henry Ford Health, McLaren Health Care, Munson Healthcare, MyMichigan Health, Trinity Health Michigan and University of Michigan Health.
Earlier this month, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, voted 8 to 3 that women who test negative for hepatitis B consult a health care provider and decide “when or if” their child will be vaccinated against the virus at birth, the New York Times reported.
The committee did not change the recommendation that newborns of mothers known to be infected or whose status is unknown be immunized. The shift is not expected to affect insurance coverage of the shots, The Times reports.
"We commend MDHHS for upholding the AAP’s longstanding recommendation that all newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, a proven and essential measure to prevent severe illness and long-term complications,” said Dr. Joseph Fakhoury, president of the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Recent national discussions have generated questions and concern, yet no new evidence justifies weakening this critical protection for infants."
"Michigan’s public health leaders have remained focused on what is clear and well established: newborn hepatitis B vaccination saves lives," he said.
The CDC is also considering other vaccine recommendations which would likely be for children to get fewer shots.
