Trump urges delaying newborn hepatitis B shots; doctors warn risk
President Donald Trump told reporters at a White House briefing he believes newborns should not routinely receive the hepatitis B vaccine and suggested waiting until age 12. Pediatric infectious‑disease specialists and public‑health experts immediately criticized the recommendation as dangerous, noting the U.S. has universally vaccinated newborns since 1991 and that infant infection carries dramatically higher risks of chronic disease and death.
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Trump advises parents on hepatitis B vaccine. Here's why doctors say he's wrong
New information:
- President Trump publicly recommended delaying the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, saying parents should 'wait until the baby is 12 years old.'
- Public‑health experts (Dr. Andrew Pavia, Dr. Anita Patel) rebutted the guidance, citing evidence that universal newborn vaccination since 1991 drove case rates down about 99% and prevented roughly 18,000 childhood infections per year seen prior to the program.
- Medical risks cited include a roughly 25% lifetime mortality among children who develop chronic hepatitis B and documented nonsexual transmission routes (e.g., household contact, daycare, contaminated surfaces) that justify neonatal protection.