Overview
- Two JAMA Pediatrics modeling studies published Monday forecast more newborn infections, more chronic hepatitis B in children, more deaths, and higher health-care costs under the CDC’s targeted or delayed birth-dose approach.
- One analysis estimated that delaying the first dose to two months for babies of mothers who tested negative would add about 90 infant infections, 76 chronic cases, 29 hepatitis B–related deaths, and over $16 million in extra costs each year.
- A separate model projected that extra infant infections could range from 69 to 628 annually depending on how many at-risk newborns still receive a birth dose in hospitals.
- Researchers said preventing most harms would require maternal hepatitis B screening near 98%, which exceeds current U.S. screening levels of about 86%.
- Implementation remains uncertain after a March federal court ruling found the ACIP restructuring likely illegal and as major medical groups signal they will not follow the new recommendation.