A federal advisory committee postponed Friday’s planned vote on whether to delay some newborns’ first hepatitis B vaccine, disrupting the second day of a closely watched meeting on updates to the childhood immunization schedule.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) panel, recently reshaped by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., raised questions about the safety and necessity of the hepatitis B vaccine during Thursday’s discussions. With the vote now postponed, parents may be wondering what this means for their child’s vaccination schedule. Below, we make it easy for you.

CDC Advisers Postpone Vote On Newborn Hepatitis B ShotHealth experts welcomed the news as the vaccine panel under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. voted to maintain current guidance on a vaccine that has protected children for decades.

For nearly 35 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that newborns receive their first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth.

On September 19, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) postponed a vote that would have delayed the first dose until at least one month after birth for babies born to mothers who test negative for hepatitis B. This comes after the panel’s September 18 meeting, where members voted to no longer recommend the combined MMRV vaccine for children under 4 years old.

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Initially, the panel had voted to continue covering these vaccines for children under 4 through the Vaccines for Children programme, which ensures access for families who may not afford them. However, they later voted to remove that coverage. While most adults recover fully from hepatitis B, about 90% of infected infants and 30% of children infected between ages 1 and 5 develop lifelong infections, which can lead to severe liver damage, liver cancer, or even death, according to the CDC.

What This Decision Means for Your Child’s Health

For now, newborns will continue to receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, keeping the long-standing protection policy in place. Experts say this early dose is crucial because infants are far more likely than older children or adults to develop chronic hepatitis B if infected.

The panel had been considering a delay for babies born to mothers who test negative for hepatitis B, but keeping the current schedule ensures that children remain safeguarded against a serious liver infection from day one.

Safety and Effectiveness of the Hepatitis B Birth Dose

The hepatitis B vaccine given within 24 hours of birth is considered both safe and highly effective. Decades of research and real-world use have shown that newborns tolerate the vaccine well, with only minor side effects such as mild soreness at the injection site or a low-grade fever in rare cases.

Giving the first dose at birth is particularly important because infants are far more vulnerable to developing chronic hepatitis B if infected. Around 90% of infants who contract the virus go on to develop lifelong infections, which can lead to severe liver problems, liver cancer, or even premature death.

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Early vaccination helps the immune system recognise and fight the virus, providing protection from the very first hours of life. The birth dose, followed by subsequent doses as part of the recommended schedule, has been credited with dramatically reducing hepatitis B infections in young children and protecting millions of babies worldwide.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee will meet on Thursday and Friday to review the childhood vaccination schedule, look at adjuvants and possible contaminants, and revisit hepatitis B immunisation guidance.

This will be the third gathering this year of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 former members and brought in his own choices, many of whom have openly questioned long-standing vaccine policies.

It is also the first meeting since ACIP chair Martin Kulldorff, a former Harvard Medical School professor, accepted a permanent job at HHS. Pediatric cardiologist and former U.S. Air Force flight surgeon Dr. Kirk Milhoan will lead the committee during this session.

Hepatitis B: CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee Meeting

The latest battle in the US’ growing political, cultural, and scientific debate over vaccines will unfold inside a CDC meeting room in Atlanta later this week.

There, a key CDC advisory group — now entirely appointed by Kennedy who will vote on proposals that could significantly change long-accepted guidance meant to shield newborns from hepatitis B, a virus known to cause liver cancer.

The two-day ACIP meeting comes shortly after Kennedy instructed the CDC to alter language on its website, downplaying the agency’s long-standing statement that vaccines do not cause autism, even though extensive research has repeatedly found no connection.

Here is what public health experts say they will be watching during this week’s meeting, which will be livestreamed on Thursday and Friday.

Hepatitis B: Votes May Delay Or Limit Babies’ Protection Against Hepatitis B

According to the meeting agenda, Thursday’s discussions and votes will centre on major changes to hepatitis B guidance. Overnight, the committee released draft wording for two recommendations.

As per CNN, the first proposal would shift the current universal recommendation for newborn hepatitis B vaccination to an “individual-based decision” made by parents and a healthcare provider for babies born to mothers who test negative for the virus or whose status is unknown.

The language also gives parents and clinicians the freedom to “decide when or if their child will begin the HBV series.”

The second vote concerns draft wording that encourages parents to talk with clinicians about blood tests to check immunity levels before later hepatitis B doses. The draft states that insurance should cover these tests.

Currently, all newborns are advised to receive the vaccine shortly after birth to protect against infection from an undetected maternal case and from close contacts who may unknowingly carry the virus.

Committee members have previously urged better hepatitis B screening during pregnancy, while others have questioned whether only high-risk infants should get the vaccine.

Hepatitis B: How Contagious Is It?

Hepatitis B is highly contagious. It spreads through contact with infected blood and bodily fluids, often from people with no symptoms. While it can be passed during birth, through sex, or shared needles, it can also spread through shared items found in many homes: nail clippers, toothbrushes, and even certain pieces of jewellery.

Childhood And Adolescent Immunisation Schedule

It is not yet clear what parts of the schedule will be reviewed. The early agenda listed this topic for Friday without details. The final agenda shows that attorney Aaron Siri, a close adviser to Kennedy, will speak on this.

Critics, including Kennedy, have raised questions about the number of vaccines children receive and the timing between doses.

Discussion of “Adjuvants And Contaminants” In Vaccines

According to ABC News, the draft agenda included a Friday session on adjuvants and contaminants. The final programme describes the talk as examining aluminium exposure from vaccines before 24 months and rates of persistent asthma between ages 24 and 59 months.

Aluminum salts are used in several vaccines — including diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B—to strengthen the immune response, according to CNN.

The ACIP meeting also follows last week’s internal FDA memo claiming that Covid-19 vaccines may be connected to the deaths of ten children. Lakshmanan, O’Leary, and others say the committee could raise the issue during the discussions.

US President Donald Trump was seen struggling to stay alert several times during a three-hour Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Footage showed the 79-year-old president narrowing his eyes again and again and briefly closing them fully, even as Cabinet officials spoke about their work and praised his leadership.

At one point, he appeared to drift off while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick addressed the room before shifting forward to reply. His tired look followed a long night on Truth Social, where he posted more than 160 times between 7 p.m. and midnight on Monday and resumed posting shortly before 6 a.m. on Tuesday, which added to the growing discussion around his health.

Donald Trump Appears to Fight Sleep During Televised Cabinet Meeting

President Donald Trump seemed to lose focus multiple times during the Dec. 2 Cabinet meeting. He repeatedly narrowed his eyes and, at one moment, kept them fully closed as his team outlined their achievements and spoke in his praise. While Howard Lutnick shared an update on the Commerce Department, Trump kept his eyes shut for several seconds before leaning in to answer him.

The president’s drained appearance followed a night of heavy activity on Truth Social, where he uploaded more than 160 posts from early evening to midnight on Dec. 1. He returned to the platform by 5:48 a.m. the next morning.

When PEOPLE reached out for comment, the White House shared a statement from press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She said, “President Trump was listening closely and leading the three-hour Cabinet meeting,” before repeating a recent administration claim that Somali immigrants do not belong in Minnesota.

She continued, “Watch his strong closing remarks in the press conference, where he called out America-Last Democrats for allowing radical Somali migrants to take advantage of American taxpayers.” She said that this moment captured the energy of Trump’s ninth Cabinet meeting of his second term, all of which have been fully open to the press.

“In each of these meetings,” she added, “the President and his team lay out the long list of accomplishments they have delivered for the American people to Make America Great Again.” Last year, Trump rejected reports that he had fallen asleep during his criminal trial in New York. Multiple outlets had described him slipping into brief naps, with The New York Times noting, “Mr. Trump appeared to nod off a few times, his mouth going slack and his head drooping onto his chest,” which Trump denied.

Donald Trump Health Questions Surge As He Was Caught Sleeping

Donald Trump is once again facing scrutiny over his health after a new video showed him looking sleepy during a Cabinet meeting. His slow eye movements and long pauses with his eyes shut set off fresh conversations online. A separate photograph from Mar-a-Lago, where he appeared with his eyes closed and mouth open, fuelled more worry.

As per PEOPLE, at the same time, an image of Joe Biden looking lively during a walk in Nantucket led to a wave of side-by-side comparisons on social media. The White House maintains that Trump remains in “excellent health”, pointing to recent tests, though his unclear remarks about undergoing an MRI have added to public questions. With both leaders under a microscope, discussions about presidential fitness have returned with new intensity.

Donald Trump MRI Scan Results

The White House on Monday released details from Donald Trump’s MRI, which he completed last month as concerns about his health continued. In a statement, Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, the physician to the president, outlined the results of Trump’s advanced imaging. He said the scan focused on Trump’s heart and abdominal region, showed no issues, and confirmed that the president is in “excellent health”. This type of preventive testing is common for men in his age group.

Even so, with this being his second MRI this year, speculation has grown about whether Trump is dealing with any health problems, and the recent moment where he seemed to fall asleep has heightened that speculation.

A sudden and unusually early rise in norovirus infections, often called the “winter vomiting disease”, has been reported across the United States, adding yet another health concern to a season already crowded with respiratory illnesses, as noted by Axios. Figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that positive norovirus tests have doubled over recent weeks, climbing from seven percent in August to 14 percent by mid-November.

This spike has arrived sooner than expected and at a time when cases of COVID, whooping cough, and seasonal flu are also climbing.

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Winter Vomiting Disease: What Is The Norovirus?

Norovirus leads to intense vomiting and diarrhea because it irritates the stomach and intestines, as described by the CDC. This has earned it the informal name “extreme vomiting disease.”

It is the most frequent cause of vomiting and diarrhea in the country. Nearly 20 million people deal with norovirus each year, according to Scientific American. It is different from the common “stomach bug” or “stomach flu” and has no link to the influenza virus.

Winter Vomiting Disease: Norovirus Symptoms To Watch For

Symptoms typically appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure and often include:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Dehydration (usually due to repeated vomiting and diarrhea)

Less often, people may also experience fever, headaches, or body aches.

Winter Vomiting Disease: Who Is At Risk For Norovirus?

Norovirus outbreaks can affect anyone, but children and older adults face a higher chance of serious illness, the CDC notes. Since several strains of the virus exist, people may get sick more than once. Genetics may also influence how likely someone is to catch it.

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Winter Vomiting Disease: How Does Norovirus Spread?

Health officials describe norovirus as extremely contagious. It spreads quickly through droplets, contaminated surfaces, or unsafe food.

Norovirus is a human virus usually spread through the fecal-oral route,” explained Robyn Chatman, a Cincinnati physician, to the American Medical Association. This means the virus can transfer from contaminated hands to the mouth during routine activities. It can remain on surfaces for days or even weeks and moves rapidly in crowded places such as nursing homes, child care centers, and cruise ships, the AMA notes.

Winter Vomiting Disease: Why Are Norovirus Cases Spreading In The US?

A norovirus “outbreak,” as defined by the CDC, occurs when two or more similar illnesses stem from the same suspected or confirmed source. The CDC records about 2,500 such outbreaks each year.

Between August 1 and November 13, 153 outbreaks were reported. By comparison, only 69 outbreaks had been recorded by the final week of November last year. In early December 2023, the U.S. logged 65 outbreaks, according to AP.

Everyday Health reports that a new norovirus strain may be contributing to the current jump in cases. For many years, most infections were linked to the strain GII.4. Now another strain, GII.17, has become dominant, responsible for around 75 percent of outbreaks during the 2024–2025 season, up from about 10 percent during 2022–2023.

What to Do if You Get Sick With Norovirus?

There is no specific treatment for norovirus, as Cleveland Clinic explains. The infection needs to run its course. Staying well-hydrated, resting, and choosing mild, easy-to-digest foods can help ease symptoms. Seek medical care if you cannot keep fluids down or if your symptoms continue beyond three days.

To prevent spreading the virus, the CDC advises avoiding food preparation or caring for others until at least 48 hours after symptoms stop.