Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendations

In pediatric practice, few topics are as foundational and scientifically grounded as vaccinations. This season, a major shift in federal vaccine advisory guidance has sparked fresh discussion about how we protect infants from hepatitis B. The CDC’s advisory committee on immunization practices voted to revise the more than 30-year guidance around the universal birth-dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine. In this episode, our goal is to provide clarity for clinicians on the best vaccination approach for our youngest patients. 

For this important discussion, we are joined by Sean O’Leary, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Children’s Colorado, as well as a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is also chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Infectious Diseases, otherwise known as the Red Book Committee. 

In this episode, our experts discuss: 

• The history of hepatitis B infection in children in the U.S. 
• Why the birth dose has been such a critical part of prevention 
• Breaking down the recent decision by the CDC advisory committee 
• Recommendations for this vaccine moving forward