Nisha Pandey

Health and Me

Hepatitis B Infections Could Rise 83% If US Changes Newborn Vaccine Policy: Study

Chronic hepatitis B infections among children and young adults in the United States could rise by 83% if the country moves away from routinely recommending vaccination at birth for all newborns, according to a new study titled Projected Effect of 2026 Federal Changes to the Childhood Immunization Schedule on Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infections in the United States, published in Annals of Internal Medicine recently.

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School analysed outcomes for a birth cohort of 3.6 million infants over their first 20 years.

The study examined the impact of changes to US hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for babies born to mothers who test negative for the virus.

Under the revised approach, parents and healthcare providers decide together whether and when to begin vaccination. The findings suggest that this could leave more children vulnerable to infection, increasing the cases of chronic <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/h-pylori-hpv-among-five-infections-behind-1-in-8-cancers-worldwide-lancet-article-156245302" data-type="tilCustomLink">hepatitis B</a>.

The model compared universal vaccination at birth with two alternatives. The first is delaying the first dose until at least two months of age, and the second is leaving the decision to parents and healthcare providers.

Researchers estimated that delaying vaccination could increase chronic hepatitis B infections acquired by age 20 by 19%. Under the second option, the estimated increase was 83%.

The model estimated 255 chronic infections under universal birth-dose vaccination, compared to 303 if vaccination was delayed and 467 under shared decision-making.

The number of people who remained at high risk to hepatitis B at age 20 was also projected to increase. Under universal vaccination at birth, around 232,000 people in the cohort would remain at risk. This rose to 474,000 with delayed vaccination and approximately 1.8 million under shared decision-making.

Study's corresponding author Amir Mohareb said, “These findings show why policy makers should re-implement recommendations for universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth.”

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/hepatitis-c-could-8-week-treatment-help-india-reach-more-patients-article-156336637" data-type="tilCustomLink">Hepatitis C: Could 8-Week Treatment Help India Reach More Patients?</a>

<h2>Importance Of Hepatitis B Birth Dose </h2>

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and spreads through infected blood and certain bodily fluids, including during childbirth. Infection acquired during infancy is likely to become chronic, leading to <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/fatty-liver-disease-scientists-identify-5-subtypes-with-different-health-risks-article-156372680" data-type="tilCustomLink">cirrhosis</a>, liver failure or liver cancer in the future.

The universal hepatitis B birth-dose recommendation was introduced in the US in 1991. The first dose provides early protection, including when maternal infection is missed or a child's exposure risk is not recognised.

In December 2025, the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended replacing universal vaccination at birth with shared decision-making for infants whose mothers test negative.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopted this approach in January 2026. Babies born to mothers who test positive or whose infection status is unknown continue to be recommended to receive the birth dose promptly, along with hepatitis B immune globulin when indicated.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/can-panty-liners-pose-a-cancer-risk-what-science-says-article-156340789" data-type="tilCustomLink">Can Panty Liners Pose A Cancer Risk? What Science Says</a>

<h2>Increase In Infections, Deaths And Costs</h2>

Why Can You Still Get COVID After Vaccination? Ex-CDC Vaccine Advisor Explains

The changes in vaccine policy is also likely to lead to hundreds more infections, deaths, and millions of dollars in higher costs, according to another research published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Pediatricians, public health experts, and dozens of medical groups warned that it could harm children and their families. So the JAMA studies modelled the potential impact of the policy.

The first study estimated that delaying the first hepatitis B vaccine dose by two months for babies born in a single year to mothers who tested negative — about 80 percent of the 3.6 million US births annually — would increase lifetime health-care costs by at least $16 million, The Washington Post reported. If vaccination were delayed by seven months, it would cost an additional $19.8 million.

The second study modeled what would happen if only 10 per cent of babies born to unscreened mothers received a birth dose; an additional 628 babies would get infected.

“One of the most concerning implications is how many more infected Hep B babies will we see,” said co-author Rachel Epstein, a pediatric and adult infectious diseases clinician at Boston Medical Center.

“A universal birth dose helps prevent a substantial number of infections in babies of a lifelong condition that we do not have a cure for,” she added.

Health Conditions A-Z

health

hepatitis-b-infections-could-rise-83-if-us-changes-newborn-vaccine-policy-study

hepatitis B

hepatitis B vaccine

us advisory committee on immunization practices

centers for disease control and prevention

childhood immunization schedule

annals of internal medicine

harvard medical school

g155e-h1n1-mutation-in-us-raises-concerns-can-this-years-flu-shot-still-protect-you

G155E H1N1 Mutation In US Raises Concerns: Can This Year’s Flu Shot Still Protect You?

christina-applegate-reveals-multiple-sclerosis-misdiagnosis-why-the-disease-is-hard-to-diagnose-commonswikimedia

Christina Applegate Reveals Multiple Sclerosis Misdiagnosis: Why The Disease Is Hard To Diagnose

Health News

8 Sit-Up Variations to Strengthen Your Core and Build Stability

Benefits Of Ayurvedic Health Supplement Ashwagandha

9 Anti-Inflammatory Breakfast Options You Should Try

5 Foods You Should Avoid For PCOS, Says Gynecologist

Love Sitting With Your Legs Crossed? Here’s You Should Avoid It

6 Daily Foods That Are Secretly Increasing Your Calories

9 Brain Boosters You Should Do Everyday

Hip Exercises That Will Keep You Flexible As You Age

9 Leg Exercises Office Workers’ Should Do At Home

Benefits of Having Herbal Tea Every Morning

9 Daily Habits That Boost Your Brain Power

Lower-Body Exercises That Are Game-Changers

How Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar Helps You

Aging Myths You Should Never Believe

Superfoods That Support Your Gut Health

What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Instant Noodles Every Day?

Health Issues Premature Babies Often Face

Exercises Office Workers Should Do For Their Heart Health

Reasons Why You Should Add Raw Turmeric To Your Diet

Benefits Of Drinking Milk At Night: Why You Should Do It

Food That Provides Vitamin B12 Naturally In Your Diet

Surprising Health Benefits Of Fenugreek Seeds

9 Superfoods You Should Eat For Your Brain Health

What Does Mental Health Support Look Like At Work?

Long Stretches You Should Do To Unwind From Your Day

Colon Cancer In Young Adults: Early Symptoms You Should Know

Health Benefits Of Eating Dry Fruits Everyday

Are You At Risk For Fried Rice Syndrome?

These Tests Reveal How Well You Are Aging

Lower-Back Exercises You Should Do After A Long-Day's Work

Children’s Diet – What Kids Need To Eat For Immunity Building

Common Diabetes Myths That Could Hurt Your Health

Love Spicy Food? Here’s How It Affects Your Health

Superfood List: Veggies And Fruits You Must Have For Immunity

Foods People With IBS Should Avoid

Exercises To Improve Digestion

Easy Work Lunches You Can Make In The Morning

Hunger Vs Craving: Difference Explained In 60 seconds

These Things Can Cause Your Heart To Age Faster

High Carb Foods That Are Actually Healthy

Chronic hepatitis B infections among children and young adults in the United States could rise by 83% if the country moves away from routinely recommending vaccination at birth for all newborns, according to a new study titled Projected Effect of 2026 Federal Changes to the Childhood Immunization Schedule on Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infections in the United States, published in Annals of Internal Medicine recently.Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School analysed outcomes for a birth cohort of 3.6 million infants over their first 20 years. The study examined the impact of changes to US hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for babies born to mothers who test negative for the virus.Under the revised approach, parents and healthcare providers decide together whether and when to begin vaccination. The findings suggest that this could leave more children vulnerable to infection, increasing the cases of chronic hepatitis B.What Did The Study Find?The model compared universal vaccination at birth with two alternatives. The first is delaying the first dose until at least two months of age, and the second is leaving the decision to parents and healthcare providers.Researchers estimated that delaying vaccination could increase chronic hepatitis B infections acquired by age 20 by 19%. Under the second option, the estimated increase was 83%.The model estimated 255 chronic infections under universal birth-dose vaccination, compared to 303 if vaccination was delayed and 467 under shared decision-making.The number of people who remained at high risk to hepatitis B at age 20 was also projected to increase. Under universal vaccination at birth, around 232,000 people in the cohort would remain at risk. This rose to 474,000 with delayed vaccination and approximately 1.8 million under shared decision-making.Study's corresponding author Amir Mohareb said, “These findings show why policy makers should re-implement recommendations for universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth.”Also read: Hepatitis C: Could 8-Week Treatment Help India Reach More Patients?Importance Of Hepatitis B Birth Dose Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and spreads through infected blood and certain bodily fluids, including during childbirth. Infection acquired during infancy is likely to become chronic, leading to cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer in the future.The universal hepatitis B birth-dose recommendation was introduced in the US in 1991. The first dose provides early protection, including when maternal infection is missed or a child's exposure risk is not recognised.In December 2025, the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended replacing universal vaccination at birth with shared decision-making for infants whose mothers test negative. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopted this approach in January 2026. Babies born to mothers who test positive or whose infection status is unknown continue to be recommended to receive the birth dose promptly, along with hepatitis B immune globulin when indicated.Also read: Can Panty Liners Pose A Cancer Risk? What Science SaysIncrease In Infections, Deaths And Costs         The changes in vaccine policy is also likely to lead to hundreds more infections, deaths, and millions of dollars in higher costs, according to another research published in JAMA Pediatrics.Pediatricians, public health experts, and dozens of medical groups warned that it could harm children and their families. So the JAMA studies modelled the potential impact of the policy.The first study estimated that delaying the first hepatitis B vaccine dose by two months for babies born in a single year to mothers who tested negative — about 80 percent of the 3.6 million US births annually — would increase lifetime health-care costs by at least $16 million, The Washington Post reported. If vaccination were delayed by seven months, it would cost an additional $19.8 million.The second study modeled what would happen if only 10 per cent of babies born to unscreened mothers received a birth dose; an additional 628 babies would get infected.“One of the most concerning implications is how many more infected Hep B babies will we see,” said co-author Rachel Epstein, a pediatric and adult infectious diseases clinician at Boston Medical Center.“A universal birth dose helps prevent a substantial number of infections in babies of a lifelong condition that we do not have a cure for,” she added.

hepatitis b infections could rise 83% if us changes newborn vaccine policy: study

About Us

Contact Us

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Company

Health and Me is a premium website with content written and curated to function as a handbook for all Health concerns.

Hepatitis B Infections Could Rise 83% If US Changes Newborn Vaccine Policy: Study

G155E H1N1 Mutation In US Raises Concerns: Can This Year’s Flu Shot Still Protect You?

Christina Applegate Reveals Multiple Sclerosis Misdiagnosis: Why The Disease Is Hard To Diagnose

American COVID Drives Cases And Deaths In UK: Unusual XFG Symptoms To Watch For

Health Conditions A-Z

Hepatitis B Infections Could Rise 83% If US Changes Newborn Vaccine Policy: Study

G155E H1N1 Mutation In US Raises Concerns: Can This Year’s Flu Shot Still Protect You?

Christina Applegate Reveals Multiple Sclerosis Misdiagnosis: Why The Disease Is Hard To Diagnose