Hepatitis B Foundation president discusses recommendations for infant vaccination

Chari A. Cohen, DrPH, MPH, president of the Hepatitis B Foundation, emphasized the importance of maintaining existing hepatitis B vaccination practices for newborns in the United States. Speaking about current evidence and the recent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) vote on the hepatitis B vaccine for infants, she noted that clinicians have decades of data supporting established recommendations.^1,2

“I think providers are going to have to look at the 40 years or more of evidence that we have and make their decision based on that,” Cohen said. She stated that the Hepatitis B Foundation continues to support longstanding recommendations: “We are recommending no change. We are recommending that every baby born in the US should get the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, followed by the full series of 3 doses is what you need for long-term protection.”

Guidance for clinicians seeking evidence-based resources

Cohen encouraged clinicians to consult reputable, evidence-based sources when evaluating hepatitis B vaccination data. “I would just encourage providers, if you have questions about the evidence, to go to trusted sources of information, like the American Academy of Pediatrics, CHOP Vaccine Education Center, or the Hepatitis B Foundation. To help clarify for you,” she said.

Considerations regarding insurance coverage and implementation

During the recent ACIP meeting, questions were raised about whether upcoming policy changes could affect coverage for the hepatitis B vaccine. Cohen stated that there is still uncertainty, but noted that early indications suggest coverage may remain intact.

“We're not really sure yet,” she said. “According to the discussion that there was that they had this morning at the ACIP meeting, and according to the vote. It seems as though initially they don't think that it's going to remove coverage of the hepatitis B vaccine for anyone in the US. I hope that's true.”

She added that real-world implementation may differ from expectations. “Sometimes things are rolled out and are implemented a little bit differently than what you expect, so I think only time will tell,” Cohen said. “But we are hoping that this does not reduce or limit access to the hepatitis B vaccine for anyone.”

Disclosure:

Cohen is president of the Hepatitis B Foundation.

References

1. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) - December 5, 2025 - Day 2 of 2. YouTube. December 5, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/live/kUgXRUpKal4
2. Fitch J. ACIP votes to update hepatitis B vaccine recommendation for infants. Contemporary Pediatrics. December 5, 2025. Accessed December 5, 2205. https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/acip-votes-to-update-hepatitis-b-vaccine-recommendation-for-infants