12/07/2025
In alignment with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Maryland Department of Health will continue to recommend that all newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine birth dose.
“This irresponsible and purposely misleading guidance will lead to more hepatitis B infections in infants and children. I want to reassure parents and clinicians that there is no new or concerning information about the hepatitis B vaccine that is prompting this change, nor has children’s risk of contracting hepatitis B changed. Instead, this is the result of a deliberate strategy to sow fear and distrust among families,” said American Academy of Pediatrics President Susan J. Kressly.
In medicine, the shared clinical decision-making designation is not intended for interventions with clear, evidence-based benefits to a broad population, such as a safe vaccine that offers an important benefit to all newborns. Instead, a universal recommendation – such as what AAP continues to make for the hepatitis B birth dose – offers clear guidance to pediatricians and families that the vaccine is important and beneficial. Pediatricians are ready to discuss the vaccine with families, review benefits and potential side effects, and collaborate with parents to make informed decisions about their child’s health.
“The American Academy of Pediatrics will continue to provide clear, evidence-backed guidance on routine childhood immunizations. I encourage parents, expecting parents and caregivers to talk with their pediatricians and doctors if they have questions about the hepatitis B vaccine,” said Dr. Kressly.
Click here to read the full statement: https://bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
