What is the ACIP and who appoints its members?

The ACIP is the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Its members are appointed by the Health and Human Services Secretary, recently including Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Why was the hepatitis B vaccine vote postponed?

The vote was postponed due to confusion among committee members regarding the repeatedly altered language of the proposed guidance and insufficient evidence for a confident recommendation.

Do the CDC's ACIP recommendations have to be followed?

While not determinative, the CDC typically follows the recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Home / Health / CDC Advisors Battle Moving Target on Hepatitis B Vaccine Rules

CDC Advisors Battle Moving Target on Hepatitis B Vaccine Rules

5 Dec, 2025

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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.

CDC Advisors Battle Moving Target on Hepatitis B Vaccine Rules

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.