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JAMA Study Charts Steep Drop in Newborn Hepatitis B Shots Before CDC Reversal

Researchers say the decline began in mid-2023 during heightened vaccine debate.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) votes on the recommendation of the childhood hepatitis B vaccine schedule at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 5, 2025. REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer
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Hepatitis B written on a page. Medical concept.

Overview

  • Birth‑dose coverage fell from 83.5% in February 2023 to 73.2% by August 2025, based on Epic Systems data from more than 12 million infants across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
  • The downturn started around July 2023 and coincided with a widely viewed Joe Rogan podcast episode featuring Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the study reports, without establishing causation.
  • In December 2025, a CDC advisory panel appointed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ended the universal newborn recommendation, and the January 2026 schedule now targets only high‑risk infants.
  • Pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatrics continue to recommend the birth dose as a safety net against false‑negative maternal tests, unexpected exposures, and missed follow‑up.
  • Experts warn falling coverage could raise infant hepatitis B risk, though no uptick in cases has been documented yet, and universal vaccination since 1991 has cut child infections by nearly 90%.