The CDC now says parents and clinicians can decide whether babies born to mothers who test negative for hepatitis B should receive the vaccine at birth, while immediate vaccination remains recommended when infection is confirmed or status is unknown.
Hepatitis B vaccination for newborns in the United States has long been a routine part of infant care, but the guidance has shifted again after a December 2025 change from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 1991, the CDC has broadly recommended the vaccine for all infants, with the first dose traditionally given within 24 hours of birth. Under the updated policy, babies born to mothers who test negative for hepatitis B are no longer automatically scheduled for that immediate dose; instead, parents and clinicians are told to make the decision together about whether to vaccinate at birth or wait until later in infancy.
For infants whose mothers test positive for hepatitis B, or whose status is unknown, the agency has kept the longstanding recommendation for vaccination soon after delivery. The CDC says those babies should still receive the first dose within 12 hours of birth. That distinction means the new approach affects only a subset of newborns, but it marks a notable departure from the universal birth-dose guidance that has been in place for decades.
The CDC says the vaccine remains safe and effective, and its broader vaccination pages continue to recommend hepatitis B immunisation for infants, children, adolescents and adults at risk. The agency also says the vaccine can be given in a series of two or three shots, depending on the product used. In its guidance for pregnant women, the CDC says the vaccine is safe during pregnancy and advises discussing the best option with a healthcare provider.
The policy change has renewed attention on a vaccine that public health officials have long credited with helping prevent a serious liver infection that can become chronic when contracted early in life. The CDC’s shift towards shared decision-making for some families is likely to be closely watched by paediatricians and parents alike, especially because it alters one of the most familiar early-life immunisation practices in the United States.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
