RFK Jr’s Vaccine Panel Expected to Delay Newborn Hepatitis B Shots Until Age 4

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s reconstituted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is expected to vote September 18-19 to delay routine hepatitis B vaccination from birth to age 4, potentially ending a 30-year universal newborn vaccination program that has reduced pediatric hepatitis B cases by 99%.

The decision could eliminate insurance coverage requirements and free vaccine access through federal programs, while setting precedent for further childhood vaccine schedule modifications.

Kennedy completely replaced ACIP membership in June 2024, installing vaccine-skeptical members including Martin Kulldorff, who has questioned universal newborn hepatitis B vaccination. This represents the first major childhood vaccine recommendation change in decades, coming amid broader concerns about Kennedy’s management of federal health agencies.

The committee is expected to recommend delaying hepatitis B vaccination from the current birth-to-24-hours standard to age 4, except for high-risk infants. Unlike typical ACIP procedures, no preliminary data workgroup analysis has been conducted. Additional discussions will address measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine recommendations and COVID-19 vaccine restrictions.

Expected Impact

• Insurance companies would no longer be required to cover hepatitis B vaccines given before the new recommended age, potentially shifting costs to parents. Vaccine manufacturers face reduced pediatric market demand, while healthcare providers must navigate new protocols. The federal Vaccines for Children program would lose funding obligations for the newborn dose once recommendations are approved.

• Medical organizations have been barred from ACIP workgroups, signaling a fundamental shift in vaccine policy development. The decision could establish precedent for modifying other childhood vaccine schedules, particularly given Kennedy’s stated priorities around COVID-19 and MMR vaccines. Public health experts warn this reverses decades of hepatitis B elimination progress.

Stakeholder Perspectives

“We recommend a universal approach to prevent those cases where a test might be incorrect or a mother might have unknowingly contracted hepatitis. It’s really the best way to keep our entire population healthy,”

Dr. Eric Ball, pediatrician in Orange County, California

Medical organizations like the American Medical Association have expressed reservations about Kennedy’s tenure but have been excluded from ACIP workgroups.

“Unless the mother is hepatitis B positive, an argument could be made to delay the vaccine for this infection, which is primarily spread by sexual activity and intravenous drug use”

Martin Kulldorff ACIP Chairman said during June meetings

HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon maintained that “ACIP exists to ensure that vaccine policy is guided by the best available evidence and open scientific deliberation.”

“I am goddamn frustrated. I would not want anyone to have to experience that if it can be prevented,”

Wendy Lo, a 52-year-old hepatitis B patient who has lived with the disease since birth.

Patient advocates emphasize that delaying vaccination opens doors for preventable infections, particularly among children who may be exposed through everyday activities.

What’s next

• Q4 2025: State health departments update requirements – School and daycare vaccination mandates may require legislative changes

• September 18-19, 2025: ACIP votes on hepatitis B, MMRV, and COVID-19 vaccine recommendations – Final vote determines new childhood vaccination schedule

• Post-vote (TBD): Acting CDC Director approval required – Recommendations become official policy once approved

• Implementation (30-90 days post-approval): Insurance coverage changes take effect – Vaccines for Children program funding adjustments begin