US panel votes to end recommending hepatitis B vaccine for all newborns

The US advisory panel has voted to end the recommendation for the hepatitis B vaccine to be given to all newborns. This decision was welcomed by President Trump, who has instructed the health department to explore further changes to the childhood vaccination schedule. The panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), concluded that the hepatitis B vaccine should now only be recommended for newborns of mothers with the hepatitis B virus, as well as for high-risk infants. This marks a departure from the previous universal recommendation for all newborns to receive the vaccine. The decision has sparked debate, with some health experts expressing concern about the potential impact on public health. The administration's stance on this issue aligns with its broader skepticism towards certain aspects of the vaccination program, though the long-term consequences of this policy shift remain to be seen.