According to the CDC: in the US, individuals at highest risk for hepatitis B infection are those who engage in risky behaviors such as illegal IV drug use, prostitution, men who have sex with men, and people who have received blood transfusions using infected blood.
Yet, this vaccine is recommended for every newborn in America. And, starting in 2025, for all pregnant women.
Why?
CDC promotes universal childhood vaccination with the Hepatitis B vaccine because "efforts to vaccinate persons in the major risk groups have had limited success. For example, programs directed at injecting drug users failed to motivate them to receive three doses of vaccine (CDC, unpublished data)."
So all babies are supposed to get the Hepatitis B vaccine:
- in-utero (before being born)
- right after being born
- at their one month well-visit
- again at 6 months
- and again at 18 months
It's important to note that some countries do not recommend this vaccine in their childhood schedules.
The 1999 "Hepatitis B Vaccine Investigation" by ABC 20/20 looks into whether the potential benefits are worth the risks:
Please share this special history page with everybody considering the Hepatitis B vaccine.
