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CDC Advisors Battle Moving Target on Hepatitis B Vaccine Rules
5 Dec
Summary
- Committee members expressed confusion over repeatedly changing vote language.
- The vote on hepatitis B vaccine guidance was postponed multiple times.
- Advisors appointed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled with the evolving proposal.

Vaccine advisors appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently encountered significant confusion regarding proposed changes to hepatitis B vaccine guidance. Members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) expressed bewilderment as the language for an upcoming vote was altered multiple times within a short period.
This uncertainty led to a postponement of the vote, initially expected in September and then rescheduled for Thursday, ultimately being pushed to Friday. One committee member described the situation as attempting to 'evaluate a moving target,' highlighting the difficulty in finalizing a decision with shifting parameters. The chair referred to the issues as 'audio/visual harmonization' problems, indicating technical as well as substantive challenges.
While the ACIP's recommendations are not legally binding, they carry substantial weight, as the CDC typically follows their guidance. The committee's struggles underscore the complexity of updating immunization protocols and the challenges in achieving consensus on evidence-based recommendations.


