PA Health Chief Warns of Hep B Vaccine Setback

Pennsylvania's Department of Health Secretary, Dr. Debra Bogen, voiced significant apprehension regarding a recent federal advisory panel's decision to alter the hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for children and infants. The panel voted to suggest the vaccine be administered only to newborns whose mothers test positive for the virus, or for other infants, to begin the series at two months old if parents desire. Dr. Bogen fears this change could undermine decades of progress in preventing hepatitis B, a viral infection that can lead to serious liver conditions, cancer, and even death, especially in young children.

Dr. Bogen highlighted the effectiveness of the universal newborn hepatitis B vaccination, implemented in the U.S. in 1991, which has reduced the disease risk in children by 99%. She noted that in Pennsylvania, there have been no reported cases of perinatal transmission since 2019 and no cases acquired in children under four years old since 2007. She emphasized the need for strong evidence to justify altering a successful public health strategy and assured Pennsylvanians that the state administration supports the birth dose vaccine and childhood immunization schedules.