Congresswoman Nikema Williams Leads Call to Maintain Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendations for Babies

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05), along with Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and Congressman Henry “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), led more than 30 Congressional colleagues in a letter to the U.S. Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, James O’Neill, strongly urging no changes to the highly effective recommendation that all babies receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth.

There is no data to support delaying the first immunization to one-month, four years, or 12 years of age. Globally, the need for early protection is the norm, with 116 countries recommending the universal birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.1 Since the implementation of the birth dose recommendation in 1991, there has been an astonishing 99% reduction in childhood hepatitis B infections.

The members wrote:

“As mothers, fathers, and Members of Congress, we share your goal of reducing and eliminating childhood and lifelong illnesses. To protect children from hepatitis B, we strongly urge you to maintain the existing ACIP recommendation in support of the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.”

“We were pleased that the committee delayed any vote to change the hepatitis B vaccine in September, but are very concerned that the Committee may vote to remove this longstanding recommendation this month as part of its larger focus on altering childhood vaccinations.”

“Timing of the administration of the vaccine is critical, as those exposed to the virus as a newborn or infant have a 90% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B, placing them at significant risk for liver cancer in their lifetime. Early vaccination is critical, because hepatitis B virus is 100 times more infectious than HIV, and exposure can happen at birth, or via caregivers, grandparents, other family members, or children who may not know they are infected.”

Read the full letter here.