“WHEN OR IF their CHILD will begin the hepatitis B vaccine series”

… individual-based decision-making

… for parents deciding whether to give the hepatitis B vaccine

… to infants born to women who test negative for the virus

… means that parents and health care providers should consider vaccine benefits,

vaccine risks,

and infection risks

… infection risks such as a household member who has hepatitis B

or frequent contact with persons who have emigrated from areas where hepatitis B is common

… The child immunization schedule will be updated

… The CDC will also update applicable clinical guidance for hepatitis B vaccines

… “We are restoring the balance of informed consent to parents whose newborns face little risk of contracting hepatitis B.”

… The CDC is reviewing ACIP’s  [ Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ]  secondary recommendation

that parents should consult with a health care provider on serology testing

to determine whether a subsequent hepatitis B vaccine dose is needed

… For infants born to mothers who test positive for hepatitis B or whose status is unknown, the currently recommended birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine and immunoglobulin continues with no change

                Fact Sheet: Hepatitis B Immunization