Proposed Changes to Hepatitis B Vaccination Schedule for Newborns
There's an upcoming vote that could change the timing of the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns. The current recommendation is to administer the vaccine at birth, but there are talks about postponing it until the child is four years old.
Concerns Surrounding the Proposed Change
For over three decades, newborns have been receiving their first hepatitis B shot shortly after birth. This practice has significantly reduced the spread of the potentially deadly disease among children in America. Since 1990, the rate of cases among individuals aged 19 and younger has reduced by an impressive 99%.
Delaying the vaccine until a child is four years old could potentially expose more children to the virus, leading to an increase in infection rates. Pediatricians are skeptical of the proposed change, arguing that it's better to protect children universally from the start.
"This proposed change doesn't make sense," says a pediatrician from California. "The best way to keep our population healthy is to prevent cases where a test might be incorrect or a mother might unknowingly have hepatitis. Universal vaccination from birth achieves that."
Other Vaccination Discussions
Alongside the hepatitis B vaccine, the upcoming vote will also address recommendations for the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine, as well as COVID vaccines. Changes to the vaccination schedule could cause difficulties for many families, as these recommendations often determine the vaccines that insurance plans and federal programs cover.
Unusual Circumstances Surrounding Proposed Changes
Normally, before recommending any changes to vaccine guidelines, a thorough analysis of the data would be conducted. However, this process wasn't initiated for the hepatitis B vaccines as of last August. One former health official calls it an "atypical situation."
Implications for Those Living with Hepatitis B
News of the potential change is causing distress among those who live with hepatitis B. Wendy Lo, who believes she contracted the disease at birth, is one of them. She's dealt with the psychological, financial, medical, and social impacts of chronic hepatitis B for most of her life.
Wendy only found out she had the disease when she was preparing to study abroad in college. She wishes no one else would have to go through what she did, especially when it can be prevented via vaccination.
"I wouldn't want anyone to experience what I've been through if it can be prevented," Wendy says. She also credits the vaccine for protecting her family from infection.
The Importance of Early Vaccination
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the earlier an infection occurs, the more severe the long-term consequences. The severity of an infection is significantly more severe when contracted in infancy or early childhood, potentially leading to chronic infection and long-term liver damage.
It was only in the 1990s that treatments like the antivirals Wendy now takes became available. Unchecked replication of the virus over the years has damaged her liver. Now in her 50s, she fears the results of her biannual blood tests.
The Success of Universal Vaccination
When the hepatitis B vaccine was approved in the 1980s, the initial focus was on "high-risk" adults. However, as rates of hepatitis B remained high, scientists identified a vulnerable group that was missing from the vaccination regime – newborns.
It was then decided to vaccinate all infants before leaving the hospital. This decision had a tremendous impact, virtually eliminating hepatitis B in children.
The Uncertain Future of Hepatitis B Vaccination
If the recommendation to delay the hepatitis B vaccine is adopted, health insurers may no longer cover the cost of the shot if given before the child turns four. This could leave parents to pay for a vaccine that has long been provided free of charge.
Free access to the shot would also be lost for children who receive immunizations through the federal Vaccines for Children program as soon as the new recommendations are approved.
One former health official is worried about the impact on future generations. "We'll see cases of hepatitis B once again occur. We'll see transmission into the next generation. And the next generation of doctors will have to deal with hepatitis B, when we could have cut it off at the pass," they said.
