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Study warns CDC hepatitis B birth-dose guidance raises risk

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 4:17 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Researchers Warn CDC

U.S. researchers warn revised CDC hepatitis B birth-dose guidance may increase child infection risk.
CDC limited the birth-dose in January 2025 to infants whose mothers have unknown or active HBV.
Study of 158,000 children under five in northern California found 93.5% of those with infected household members received the birth-dose.
Only 87% of children without household exposure were vaccinated, indicating gaps in low-risk groups.

Summary

WHO Criticizes Trial

The Guinea-Bissau hepatitis B trial was cancelled after the government withheld approval.
Funding of $3.2 million was split equally between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private foundations.
World Health Organization (WHO) called the no-treatment control unethical because the intervention was unproven.
Researchers planned to enroll 14,000 newborns, comparing birth-dose vaccination with a six-week start.
WHO recommends a birth dose within 24 hours to prevent 70-95% of mother-to-child transmission.

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Researchers Warn CDC

U.S. researchers warn revised CDC hepatitis B birth-dose guidance may increase child infection risk.
CDC limited the birth-dose in January 2025 to infants whose mothers have unknown or active HBV.
Study of 158,000 children under five in northern California found 93.5% of those with infected household members received the birth-dose.
Only 87% of children without household exposure were vaccinated, indicating gaps in low-risk groups.

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