ORGANIZATIONAL SIGN-ON STATEMENT
December 5, 2025
Crossposted at https://www.hepbunited.org/blog/hep-b-uniteds-statement-on-acips-hepatitis-b-vaccine-votes
Hep B United’s Statement on ACIP’s Hepatitis B Vaccine Votes
We reaffirm that the hepatitis B vaccine, including the birth dose, is safe and saves lives. Over 40 years of extensive global research show a strong safety record and clear benefits to vaccinating against hepatitis B at birth. Thanks to the long-standing recommendation (1991-2025) for universal hepatitis B birth dose and completion of the full, three-dose hepatitis B vaccine series, hepatitis B transmission among U.S. children has been nearly eliminated, even in areas where the virus was once endemic – an undeniable achievement and a true public health success story that should be celebrated.
Dr. Rita K. Kuwahara, AAPCHO senior advisor for medicine and health policy, testifies before the ACIP on the importance of the Hepatitis B Vaccine – click for video»
We continue to stand firmly with the established science, longstanding clinical guidelines by numerous medical societies domestically and globally, and the real-world successes that have significantly reduced hepatitis B infections and deaths. Our organizations remain committed to ensuring access to the birth dose and the full 3-dose hepatitis B vaccine series, promoting evidence-based best practices, and supporting the health of every community we serve.
Routine universal hepatitis B birth dose and completion of the full 3-dose vaccination remain essential to sustaining the progress we have made in preventing a virus that can cause lifelong infection and liver cancer. As hepatitis B continues to pose a serious health threat, maintaining strong birth-dose coverage is critical to protecting infants from the earliest moments of life and preventing future disease. Our organizations will continue working together to uphold this proven intervention and to strengthen the health and safety of each community we serve.
Signed Organizations (as of 12/5):
Hep B United
Hepatitis B Foundation
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Centers (AAPCHO)
National Task Force on Hepatitis B
Montefiore Starfish
Hep Free Hawaii
Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center
ADD YOUR ORGANIZATION HERE
The deadline to sign on is 5:00pm ET on Friday, December 12th.
What does today’s vote mean?
Today, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) completed two significant votes that will impact the U.S. childhood immunization schedule.
First, ACIP voted to remove the well-established recommendation in place since 1991 to vaccinate all babies at birth against hepatitis B, regardless of the mother’s status. It is now officially recommended that only babies born to mothers living with hepatitis B should receive the hepatitis B birth dose, which moves the U.S. from universal birth dose to a risk-based recommendation. ACIP suggests that babies born to mothers who do not have hepatitis B should begin the hepatitis B vaccine series not before 2 months of age.
Secondly, ACIP voted to officially reduce the number of hepatitis B doses that a baby should receive. The vote suggests that only 1 dose of the hepatitis B vaccine is needed, which is a deviation from the standard 3-dose vaccine series needed for full protection against the virus. The vote also suggests that babies should blood draws to determine if additional doses of the vaccine are needed after completing the first dose.
It is imperative to note that while ACIP’s vote removes the previous longstanding recommendation, all parents can continue to vaccinate their newborns at birth using the 3-dose series of the hepatitis B vaccine if they wish (no blood draw is needed).
What does this mean for insurance?
Hepatitis B vaccines will continue to be covered for anyone who wants the vaccine under the Vaccine for Children’s Program, and through Medicaid. America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) have committed to maintaining coverage of all childhood vaccines, including the hepatitis B vaccine, throughout 2026 despite any changes ACIP has made.
About Hep B United: Hep B United is a national coalition dedicated to eliminating hepatitis B and the health disparities and inequities associated with hepatitis B and hepatitis delta among highly impacted communities across the United States by increasing awareness, screening, vaccination, and linkage to care. To learn more, visit www.hepbunited.org.
About the Hepatitis B Foundation: The Hepatitis B Foundation is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. To learn more, visit www.hepb.org, read our blog at hepb.org/blog, follow us on Twitter @HepBFoundation, find us on Facebook at facebook.com/hepbfoundation or call 215-489-4900.
About the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organization: The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organization (AAPCHO) is a national association of community health organizations dedicated to promoting advocacy, collaboration, and leadership that improves the health status and access of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islanders in the United States. To learn more, visit www.aapcho.org.
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