"Vaccine Delay Sparks Chaos: Medical Community Speaks Out Against Hepatitis B Change"
The recent decision by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) to delay the timing of the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine has left parents and medical professionals in a state of confusion. The change, which recommends administering the first dose 30 days after birth instead of within the first 24 hours, has been met with widespread criticism from experts who warn that it could lead to increased cases of severe infections.
"We can't trust them anymore," said Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of California, Davis. "The science hasn't changed - the people on the committee interpreting it have." Blumberg, who has been a vocal advocate for vaccine safety and effectiveness, expressed concern that the delay will lead to more infants being infected with hepatitis B and potentially dying as a consequence.
The change in recommendation was made despite decades of evidence showing that the hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccination has led to a 99% decrease in severe infections between 1990 and 2019. However, with the recent delay, many medical professionals are worried that this progress will be undone.
"We're placing infants at preventable risk," said Dr. Lisa Costello, a pediatrician and associate professor of general pediatrics at West Virginia University School of Medicine. "Without timely immunizations, some children will become infected, and unfortunately, some will die."
Public health officials are urging the CDC to reject the recommendation and maintain the current policy of administering the first dose within the first 24 hours of life. "The science hasn't changed - the people on the committee interpreting it have," said Chrissie Juliano, executive director of the Big Cities Health Coalition.
Despite the backlash, some parents are questioning vaccine safety and effectiveness, citing false information and misinformation spread by prominent anti-vaccine voices. Dr. Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, reported hearing from anxious parents who are now doubting their decision to vaccinate their children.
"This type of confusion ends up changing the way people behave," said Juthani. "It's a challenging time with prominent voices fabricating distortions about vaccines."
The hepatitis B vaccine is crucial for protecting newborns against infection, which can lead to chronic illness and even death. The CDC estimates that 640,000 adults have a chronic infection, but many of them do not know they are infected and contagious.
As the debate over vaccine safety continues, it's essential to rely on credible sources and scientific evidence to inform our decisions. The medical community is urging caution and vigilance in the face of misinformation and misguided recommendations.
Ultimately, the decision on vaccine timing and policy should be guided by science, not politics or personal opinion. As Dr. Michelle Taylor, Commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department, put it, "I appreciate you telling me that [parents want to ask questions], I'm going to share it with every single person that I can, and I'm so glad that you came to me to talk to me about what it is that you're hearing, and what's true and what's not true."
The recent decision by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) to delay the timing of the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine has left parents and medical professionals in a state of confusion. The change, which recommends administering the first dose 30 days after birth instead of within the first 24 hours, has been met with widespread criticism from experts who warn that it could lead to increased cases of severe infections.
"We can't trust them anymore," said Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of California, Davis. "The science hasn't changed - the people on the committee interpreting it have." Blumberg, who has been a vocal advocate for vaccine safety and effectiveness, expressed concern that the delay will lead to more infants being infected with hepatitis B and potentially dying as a consequence.
The change in recommendation was made despite decades of evidence showing that the hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccination has led to a 99% decrease in severe infections between 1990 and 2019. However, with the recent delay, many medical professionals are worried that this progress will be undone.
"We're placing infants at preventable risk," said Dr. Lisa Costello, a pediatrician and associate professor of general pediatrics at West Virginia University School of Medicine. "Without timely immunizations, some children will become infected, and unfortunately, some will die."
Public health officials are urging the CDC to reject the recommendation and maintain the current policy of administering the first dose within the first 24 hours of life. "The science hasn't changed - the people on the committee interpreting it have," said Chrissie Juliano, executive director of the Big Cities Health Coalition.
Despite the backlash, some parents are questioning vaccine safety and effectiveness, citing false information and misinformation spread by prominent anti-vaccine voices. Dr. Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, reported hearing from anxious parents who are now doubting their decision to vaccinate their children.
"This type of confusion ends up changing the way people behave," said Juthani. "It's a challenging time with prominent voices fabricating distortions about vaccines."
The hepatitis B vaccine is crucial for protecting newborns against infection, which can lead to chronic illness and even death. The CDC estimates that 640,000 adults have a chronic infection, but many of them do not know they are infected and contagious.
As the debate over vaccine safety continues, it's essential to rely on credible sources and scientific evidence to inform our decisions. The medical community is urging caution and vigilance in the face of misinformation and misguided recommendations.
Ultimately, the decision on vaccine timing and policy should be guided by science, not politics or personal opinion. As Dr. Michelle Taylor, Commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department, put it, "I appreciate you telling me that [parents want to ask questions], I'm going to share it with every single person that I can, and I'm so glad that you came to me to talk to me about what it is that you're hearing, and what's true and what's not true."
this delay is a big deal folks. like, we know the vaccine is safe and effective but now we're gonna put more babies at risk for getting infected with hepatitis b? 640k people in the US have chronic infections because of it! 
it's not even about politics or personal opinions anymore, it's just about science and common sense. I've been following this debate online and most doctors are saying that the ACIP committee made a huge mistake here... they're not just talking about delaying the vaccine by 30 days but also saying we should put our faith in whatever "experts" make these decisions 
meanwhile, parents are already getting anxious because of misinformation spread around. it's scary stuff 
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, and it's crucial that we stick to evidence-based recommendations. It's not about politics or personal opinions; it's about keeping our kids healthy 
. We should be relying on credible sources like the CDC and medical professionals who know what they're talking about.
99% decrease in severe infections between 1990 and 2019 is not going to magically become 100% with a delayed dose... sounds like just another example of experts being overruled by those who don't understand the science 
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i feel for all the new moms who are gonna have to make this super hard decision... can't believe the acip made this change 
hepatitis b vaccine is literally lifesaving & we shouldn't be questioning it based on misinformation... let's stick to credible sources like cdc & trust the science 
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. It's just common sense, really. And if you're a parent who's worried about your child's vaccine schedule, I say: trust the science and talk to your doctor 
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. It's crucial to address the spread of false information and promote evidence-based decision-making 
. The medical community is urging caution and vigilance in the face of misinformation, but I believe we need to do more to educate the public about vaccine safety and effectiveness 
. It's disheartening to see some experts undermining this progress 
. As public health officials, we need to work together to promote accurate information and ensure that parents have access to reliable resources when making decisions about their children's health 
cant trust these medical people anymore 
instead of using their brains to think critically about it. and whats with all these parents doubting vaccinatin now? 
. It's like they're putting lives at risk just because of some uncertainty or something. 30 days after birth vs now? it's not that much time! 
what's next? delaying other vaccines too? 
... the ACIP change is super confusing & putting kids at risk. I mean, we all know the hepatitis B vaccine is safe & effective - 99% decrease in severe infections since 1990? that's not up for debate 
... shouldn't they just trust the science? 
we need to stick with what works, not let some ppl's opinions ruin it 
lets keep our kids safe & healthy 
But at the same time, I'm all about questioning the status quo and stuff. Can we really trust that this delay isn't gonna lead to some new info coming out that changes everything? 
But on the other hand, 99% decrease in severe infections is still a pretty solid statistic... 
I don't know, maybe we should just stick to what works... but at the same time...
sources, people! let's get back to relying on credible info rather than sensational headlines. 
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. It's all about finding that balance and making informed decisions based on facts and evidence 
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. it's scaring parents and causing confusion. we need to stick to credible sources and trust the data 
did you know that hepatitis b can lead to chronic illness and even death? 