Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sparked controversy by expressing skepticism regarding the hepatitis B vaccine and the longstanding practice of vaccinating newborns.
During a recent meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Kennedy raised questions about the wisdom of administering vaccinations to every newborn before they leave the hospital.
This meeting was notably significant as it marked the first assembly since Kennedy replaced all previous members with seven new appointees.
Among the newly appointed members, Martin Kulldorff, a former professor at Harvard Medical School, indicated that a new work group would be tasked with reviewing the vaccination practice.
Kennedy further fueled the debate in an interview with Tucker Carlson, where he claimed, without providing evidence, that the CDC had conducted a study suggesting the hepatitis B vaccine increases the risk of autism, allegedly hiding these findings from the public.
ABC News attempted to reach the HHS for clarification regarding the study referenced by Kennedy, but received no immediate response.
Experts in infectious diseases have strongly countered Kennedy’s claims, asserting that there is no evidence indicating the hepatitis B vaccine poses any danger and that vaccinating infants at birth has been crucial in virtually eliminating the hepatitis B virus among children.
According to the CDC, hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus, which can be transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids.
Infants may contract the virus during the birthing process or through casual contact since the virus can survive outside the body for about a week, noted Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco.
While many older children and adults exhibit symptoms of acute hepatitis B, the CDC reports that most children under five do not display any symptoms.
Dr. Chin-Hong elaborated on the serious consequences of hepatitis B, stating, “Hepatitis B … causes inflammation in the liver … and that inflammation leads to the liver not working well at all.”
This inflammation can result in cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer, with the risk of such conditions increasing the longer one suffers from hepatitis B.
Acute hepatitis B infections can lead to chronic hepatitis B, which significantly elevates the chances of liver complications in adulthood if contracted during infancy or childhood.
Vaccination stands out as the most effective means to prevent hepatitis B and safeguard individuals from its harmful effects.
The hepatitis B vaccine was first introduced in the early 1980s and typically requires either two or three doses, depending on the brand.
The CDC recommends that infants receive their initial vaccination at birth, with subsequent doses administered between one to two months and another between six to fifteen months.
Dr. Chin-Hong stated, “The more shots you get, the higher the chance the vaccine will take. If you get three shots, it’s above 97% efficacy.”
When the ACIP recommended universal hepatitis B vaccination for infants in 1991, there were approximately 18,000 cases of hepatitis B among children under ten years old in the United States.
Thanks to the vaccination effort, cases have since plummeted, with CDC data revealing that in 2022, the incidence rate among individuals aged 19 was less than 0.1 per 100,000.
Dr. Chin-Hong remarked, “It’s very, very rare. So, we’ve had a big success, and the United States is a mirror for the rest of the world … 97% of countries now have a recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination in infants. It’s really changed the face of not only infection and liver failure but also liver cancer.”
During the ACIP meeting, Kulldorff voiced concerns about the number of vaccines that children receive today compared to those received by previous generations.
He noted that the current vaccination schedule exceeds that of children in many other developed nations, as well as what members of the committee received in their own childhoods.
In response, Dr. Chin-Hong emphasized that the modern immunization schedule actually provides enhanced protection against diseases, citing the evolution in vaccine formulations.
He explained that contemporary vaccines utilize smaller components of viruses rather than the whole virus or bacteria, meaning infants are exposed to fewer antigens while benefiting from improved vaccine safety and efficacy.
The decision by the ACIP to reanalyze well-studied vaccines like the hepatitis B vaccine may inadvertently lead some to question the safety of initial approval processes, according to Dr. Chin-Hong.
On the matter of Kennedy’s assertions, it is worth noting that he has long held a skeptical view on vaccines.
During his confirmation hearings earlier this year, he refrained from outright denying the unfounded claim that vaccines cause autism, despite the extensive research debunking such a connection.
As Dr. Chin-Hong firmly stated, “There’s no evidence that the hepatitis B vaccine leads to autism or is a risk factor for autism, and that is unquestionable.”
The ongoing discussions and re-evaluations brought forth by Kennedy and his appointed panel are likely to have significant implications for public health policies and perceptions surrounding vaccinations in the United States.
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