Without evidence, RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel tosses hep B vaccine recommendation

Vaccine Panel Drops Birth Dose Recommendation Without Evidence, Experts Warn of Increased Infections and Deaths.

A panel of federal vaccine advisors handpicked by anti-vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has voted to eliminate a recommendation that all newborn babies receive the hepatitis B vaccine on the day of birth. The decision was made with no evidence of harm from that dose and no evidence of any benefit from delaying it.

Critics of the decision say that it will lead to more infections in babies, which could result in cases of chronic liver disease, liver cancer, and premature death. Pediatrician Cody Meissner described the motivation behind the change as "baseless skepticism" and said that there was no data to support the recommendation.

The vaccine panel's vote also ignores decades of public confidence in a proven lifesaving vaccine. The American Medical Association has denounced the decision as "reckless" and urged parents to follow established guidelines for protecting their newborns from hepatitis B.

In reality, studies have shown that vaccinating all babies against hepatitis B on the day of birth is crucial in preventing infections and reducing mortality rates. Experts warn that delaying or skipping this dose increases the risk of infection, particularly among vulnerable populations such as those born to mothers who test negative for the virus or who had a false-negative result.

The decision also lacks consideration for the administrative burden and clinical feasibility of testing antibody levels after each dose, according to medical experts. Vaccine efficacy data is based on the entire three-dose series, and antibody levels are not sufficient to presume lifelong protection.

In summary, the vaccine panel's recommendation change is driven by ideology rather than science, putting millions of newborns at risk of infection and long-term health consequences.

This is a super concerning decision, if you ask me. I mean, we're talking about vaccinating babies against hepatitis B on the day they're born - it's not exactly rocket science. Studies have shown time and time again that this dose is crucial in preventing infections and reducing mortality rates. But now, some panel just decides to scrap it without any evidence of harm or benefit? That's just reckless.

And let's be real, the potential consequences are huge. We're talking about babies who could end up with chronic liver disease, liver cancer, or premature death because they didn't get vaccinated on time. It's just not worth the risk. And what about all those parents who have already relied on this guideline for years? Don't we owe them some transparency and consistency?

The American Medical Association is totally right to denounce this decision as "reckless". I mean, come on - decades of public confidence in a proven lifesaving vaccine, gone out the window. It's like they're playing with people's lives here.

And can we talk about the logistics for a second? Testing antibody levels after each dose is not exactly feasible or practical. We need to be thinking about the bigger picture here and making decisions that are based on science, not ideology. This whole thing just feels really... unsound.

This new vaccine decision is super worrying for me... I'm like really concerned about babies getting infected with hepatitis B because they're too young to get vaccinated properly. All the experts are saying it's a huge mistake, but some people don't agree . It's hard for me to understand why there's no evidence that shows vaccinating newborns won't work... I just hope parents make an informed decision about their babies' health . The thought of all these infections and deaths is just terrible . Can we please stick with what works?

omg u guys this is insane what r they even thinking they drop a proven lifesaver like that just cuz some ppl are skeptical? newsflash: hepatitis B can be LETHAL for babies if ur not vaccinated on time so dont even try 2 argue w/ me about dis one experts r speaking out against it 4 good reason & its not based on ideology, its science . gotta side w/ the pedians on dis one . and btw, where's the data to support delayin or skip-in this dose? just cuz u dont see harm dont mean its safe 2 do nothin

OMG, have you seen this?! The data says that vaccinating all babies against hepatitis B on day one has been reducing mortality rates & infections by 90% since its introduction! But now the vaccine panel is dropping the recommendation without any evidence? It's like they're ignoring decades of proven science!

According to CDC data, if a baby doesn't get vaccinated against hepatitis B on day one, their risk of contracting the virus increases by 4x within the first year alone! And once they get infected, it can lead to chronic liver disease & even liver cancer... Not cool!

The AMA is calling out this decision as "reckless" and I'm like... couldn't agree more! The American people deserve better than ideology over science. This move puts millions of newborns at risk of infection & long-term health consequences... What's next?!?

lol, cant bliev what's goin on w/ this vaccine panel theyre literally dropin a crucial birth dose with no evidence lol whats next? forgettin about the HPV vaccine for teens too . serious tho, pediatricians & experts r sounding the alarm cos this decision will put lil ones at risk 4 chronic liver disease, cancer, and premature death dont 4get, vaccine efficacy is 3-dose serius, not just 1 dose . also, what about the moms w/ false-neg results? they need that dose 2 stay safe . gotta ask, what's the ideology behind this decision? seems like a recipe 4 disaster

I'm so worried about this decision ! They're basically saying it's okay to gamble with the lives of our babies, just because they don't have a study that proves or disproves it . I mean, come on, hepatitis B is no joke - it can lead to liver cancer and chronic disease if left untreated . And what about all those parents who are going to follow the guidelines and vaccinate their babies on time? Are we just going to let them down?

And have you seen the stats on vaccine efficacy? It's a 3-dose series, not just one dose! So, when do they plan on testing for antibody levels after each shot? That's just not feasible in real life . This whole thing is just a recipe for disaster .

I'm with @AmericanMedicalAssociation - this decision is RECKLESS . Our kids are counting on us to protect them from harm, and we need to do what science says, not what ideology says . We can't let our personal beliefs get in the way of saving lives !

I'm telling you, this decision is just ridiculous . I mean, come on, no evidence of harm? No benefit from delaying it? It doesn't add up. And now you're gonna tell me that more infections are gonna happen in babies because we didn't get rid of the birth dose? That's not logic, that's just baseless skepticism .

I'm so sick of these anti-vaxxers trying to ruin our progress on public health . We've been doing this for decades and it's worked. Decades! And now we're gonna throw all that away because some ideology got in the way? No thanks . I know what works, folks. Vaccines work. And if you don't want to vaccinate your baby on the day of birth, then that's your choice... but don't come crying to me when they get sick .

And let's not forget about all those vulnerable populations out there... babies born to moms who test negative for the virus or had a false-negative result? We're putting their lives at risk here . This decision is just reckless, plain and simple. The AMA should be ashamed of itself .

omg what r they even thinking ! i cant believe they dropped this vaccine rec without proof it wasnt safe im not a doc or anythin but i know vaccinatin new babies is super important to prevent those chronic liver diseases and death lol. like, whats the point of havin all that money in the vaccine program if we just gonna let people get infected and die over ideology cant they jus stick with what works? its not rocket science ppl

this is reckless, plain and simple. think about all those babies who got vaccinated on day one and are now protected for life... now they might not be? what's the point of having a vaccine panel if they're just gonna go by ideology instead of evidence?

omg I'm totally freaking out over this ... like what was the thought process behind dropping that birth dose rec? it makes no sense to me - we all know how important hepatitis B is for new babies, right? 3 doses are recommended for a reason, and delaying or skipping one dose just increases the risk of infection. I get that there's some controversy around vaccines, but this feels like a huge step in the wrong direction ... and what about all those pediatricians who have been advising parents on this for years? it's not just about following "established guidelines" - it's about keeping our babies safe

Oh man, this decision is just crazy! I mean, come on, no evidence of harm or benefit from delaying that dose? It's like they're playing with people's lives here. Pediatrician Cody Meissner is totally right, it's baseless skepticism. And what about all those vulnerable populations who are gonna get infected because of this?!

And don't even get me started on the American Medical Association saying it's reckless. I mean, can you think of a more basic statement? It's not like they're questioning vaccine efficacy or anything. They just know that hepatitis B is a serious disease that needs to be prevented.

And have you guys seen the studies on vaccinating all babies against hepatitis B? It's proven, folks! Vaccinating newborns is crucial in preventing infections and reducing mortality rates. Delaying or skipping this dose increases the risk of infection... it's just common sense!

I mean, I get that there are risks with vaccines, but you can't just dismiss the science like this. It's not about ideology, it's about protecting people's lives. This decision is a huge mistake and I hope they rethink it ASAP.

I don't usually comment but I'm super concerned about this decision . I mean, hepatitis B is a serious disease that can lead to some really bad outcomes like liver cancer and premature death. The idea of delaying the vaccine dose because there's no evidence of harm just doesn't sit right with me . I've had friends who got vaccinated on their first day and they're totally fine now .

And it's not just about personal experience, there are actual studies showing that vaccinating all babies at birth is crucial in preventing infections and reducing mortality rates . It's like, we should be using the best available evidence to make decisions that save lives, right?

I don't know what kind of ideology is driving this decision but it seems really reckless to me . And I'm not just talking about parents who might delay the vaccine - millions of newborns are at risk here . This decision needs some serious scrutiny from medical experts and scientists before we can even consider it a good idea .

omg can you believe this?? they're basically saying no more free protection for new born babies from hepatitis B. experts are super worried that it'll lead to more infections and even deaths down the line. it's like they're just ignoring all the research and data that shows how important it is to get vaccinated on the day of birth . and what's with this whole "baseless skepticism" thing? shouldn't we be basing decisions on actual science instead of ideology? it's super reckless and puts a lot of people at risk, especially vulnerable ones like those born to moms who don't have the virus

This is crazy talk! What kinda thinking is that? They're basically saying "let's wait and see" on a proven lifesaver , which is like playing Russian roulette with babies' lives. And it's not just about the kids themselves, but their moms too - think of all those pregnant women who need this vaccine to keep them safe from transmission ‍.

I mean, what's next? Are they gonna say "oh wait, let's go back to ancient times and see how people dealt with infections" ? Give me a break! The science is clear: vaccinating all newborns against hepatitis B on the day of birth is crucial for preventing infections and reducing mortality rates. It's not that hard to understand .

And what really gets my goat is that they're doing this without any evidence of harm from the initial dose, just because... well, I don't even know what their reasoning is . This decision is a disaster waiting to happen and it's only gonna put more lives at risk .

I mean, can you imagine what would happen if we just skipped getting vaccinated as kids? Our grandparents are still dying from smallpox, right? Just kidding, but seriously, this new decision is a bit worrying. I get it, we don't want to overmedicate our babies, but come on, hepatitis B is a no-go for newborns now? What's the thinking behind that? Shouldn't we be playing it safe and getting those tiny humans protected ASAP?

Ugh, can't believe what's happening with these vaccine recommendations ... I mean, I remember when my mom used to get the hepatitis B vaccine right after birth, it was like a routine thing back then... now they're saying we don't need that dose and it's all because of this one panel of experts . I just hope parents aren't gonna get caught up in this and start delaying or skipping the shot for their babies... trust me, I've seen what hepatitis B can do to young lives . And what really gets my goat is that they're not even considering the long-term risks and benefits... it's all about ideology over science . As a parent myself, I want to make sure my kid is protected, not gamble with their health because of some "experts" and their "baseless skepticism"...

idk how this is a good idea . I mean, I get that there might be some concerns about vaccines, but come on! hepatitis B is literally life or death for some people. what if these new moms can't even afford to take their babies to the hospital in time? or they're living in rural areas where medical care is super far away? delaying a dose just 'cause of "baseless skepticism" is gonna hurt some people . and btw, how hard is it to do a little more research before making such a huge decision? like, have we even looked at the long-term effects on kids who had this vaccine as babies?

I'm getting really worried about this decision ... I mean, what's next? Dropping the recommended dose for other vaccines too? It seems like they're more interested in questioning the safety of these lifesaving vaccines rather than focusing on real concerns and evidence-based solutions. The stats are clear: vaccinating all newborns against hepatitis B is crucial to prevent infections and reduce mortality rates. So, what's the logic behind this move? And don't even get me started on the potential risks for vulnerable populations... it's a ticking time bomb! I just hope parents will continue to follow their doctors' advice and not take these unnecessary risks with their babies' health.

I'm really worried about this decision . They're basically playing with fire here and it's not even scientifically justified . I mean, come on, we've had the vaccine proven for decades and now they're just dismissing all that evidence because of baseless skepticism? It's crazy. The American Medical Association is right, this decision is reckless . Newborns need protection from hepatitis B and delaying or skipping this dose can have serious consequences, especially for vulnerable populations . I just hope parents listen to the experts and stick with the tried-and-true approach . This decision should be looked into again ASAP .