December 17, 2025 - ATLANTA - On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the following: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today adopted individual-based decision-making for hepatitis B immunization for parents deciding whether to give the hepatitis B vaccine,

Under the direction of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., federal health officials have changed guidance on hepatitis B vaccines, potentially affecting millions of California infants who are at risk of dying from liver cancer later in life if they contract the virus.

On Dec. 5, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to end the universal U.S. recommendation for the newborn dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.

Doctors say the controversial vote to not recommend the vaccine for all newborns is creating chaos and hurdles for parents.

Most Democratic-led states will continue to recommend the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, despite a CDC advisory panel’s vote against it.