12/11/2025
The Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS) joins Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) in expressing our deep concern regarding the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) decision to change the long-standing and science-backed recommendation that all newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine dose at birth.
ACMS opposes this action, which will serve to worsen vaccine misunderstanding and further erode trust in public health measures that have safely protected our children from serious, preventable infections for decades. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), alongside many other national physician organizations, continues to recommend a dose of hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth with additional doses at 1 to 2 months and 6 to 18 months.
ACMS stands ready to leverage our collaborative relationships with ACHD and Allegheny County Immunization Coalition (ACIC) to ensure that all Allegheny County physicians and their patients have access to vaccines against infections such as hepatitis B, alongside accurate information regarding their safety and benefits, as ACMS continues its work to improve the health of our community.