The federal government's vaccine advisory panel, all of whom were appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., today voted to drop the recommendation that all babies get vaccinated for hepatitis B at birth.

Instead, the panel recommended that parents consult with doctors. William Brangham looks at this sharp break in practice and other significant revisions

being considered for childhood vaccinations.

That's right, Jeff.

For decades in the U.S., the hepatitis B vaccine has been recommended for all newborns.

Hepatitis B is a serious virus.

It affects the liver, and infection can lead to major health problems, including

cirrhosis and liver cancer. Newborns are especially vulnerable to this blood-borne virus,

and a baby exposed at birth has a 90% chance of a lifelong infection. The vaccine has been

shown to be highly effective in preventing infection if given

within 24 hours of birth. So joining us now is pediatrician Dr. Paul Offutt. He directs the

Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Offett, so good to have you back

on the program. You were invited to testify before this panel, but you said no.

You are a longtime supporter of this previous recommendation that all babies born get hepatitis B vaccine.

Why?

Well, so in 1991, when the recommendation was to have a birth dose for all babies,

babies whose mothers had hepatitis B infection or babies whose mothers didn't have hepatitis B infection,

because at the time 30,000 children, less than 10 years of age, had hepatitis B.

Half of them got it from their mothers.

The other half didn't. The other half got it from relatively casual contact with someone who had

chronic hepatitis B. And there are millions of people in this country then and millions of people

in this country now who have chronic hepatitis B. And this can be transmitted fairly casually.

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