The Latest Breaking News from Hepatitis

Research has revealed a steep increase in liver disease in recent years. Meanwhile, there is growing evidence of health harms from alcohol, including drinking at levels that were previously considered “moderate.” These developments make a persuasive case for viewing alcohol consumption from a public health perspective.

United States President Donald Trump this week claimed children should not be vaccinated against hepatitis B until they are 12 years old, rather than at birth. He also said the viral liver infection was a sexually transmitted disease.

A reconstituted CDC vaccine panel appointed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. postponed a vote to delay the newborn hepatitis B birth dose, keeping the current guidance in place as experts split over safety, timing and public-health risk.

Before the United States began vaccinating all infants at birth with the hepatitis B vaccine in 1991, around 18,000 children every year contracted the virus before their 10th birthday – about half of them at birth. About 90% of that subset developed a chronic infection.

The vote was a significant step toward revising childhood immunizations.

The change was backed by an advisory panel whose members were handpicked by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Health Secretary Robert F

Critics think the two days of meetings will rubber-stamp additional limits on who can get routine shots.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices may vote to disrupt the childhood vaccine schedule, despite what experts say is a lack of evidence to do so.