Change in hepatitis B vaccination recommendations raises concerns
Parents will still be able to get the hepatitis B vaccine for their children at no cost even though the US Centers for Disease Control Prevention’s vaccine advisers recommended a major change to the immunization practice, reports BritPanorama.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, composed of members selected by US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted Friday to end universal hepatitis B vaccination recommendations for newborns. This change marks a significant shift in policy.
The revised recommendation now suggests that mothers who test negative for the virus consult with a doctor or healthcare provider before their babies receive the vaccination. Critics warn this could create confusion and additional hurdles for parents, potentially leading to a decrease in immunization rates among infants.
In addition, the advisers voted to recommend that babies who miss receiving a dose at birth should wait at least two months before they can be vaccinated. This could further complicate vaccination timelines for newborns.
Two major health insurance industry groups, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and AHIP, indicated Thursday that they will continue to cover all vaccines recommended by the committee as of earlier this year, without cost-sharing, through 2026. This commitment aims to mitigate potential barriers resulting from the new guidelines.
BCBS companies will ensure coverage for all immunizations recommended by ACIP starting January 1, 2025, while complying with federal and state laws, a spokesperson noted. Likewise, AHIP members will cover vaccines recommended by ACIP beginning September 1, 2025.
Both groups had previously released statements expressing their commitment to vaccine coverage before the ACIP announced changes to recommendations for the Covid-19 vaccine and the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.
The CDC committee members, in September, had recommended that patients consult with a healthcare provider for a Covid-19 vaccine, a process termed shared clinical decision-making. However, they advised against requiring a prescription and also voted against the use of the combined MMRV vaccine for young children.
The shift to requiring consultation has raised concerns regarding the potential for insurers to no longer be obligated to cover the full cost of immunization. Under the Affordable Care Act, most private insurers are mandated to cover vaccines recommended by ACIP at no cost, and Medicaid’s coverage is likewise contingent on these recommendations.
Jen Kates, senior vice president of global and public health policy for KFF, an independent health policy research organization, stated that the change to requiring consultation would not alter the ACA’s mandate for insurers. However, she expressed concern that fewer newborns would receive the vaccine as a result of the new recommendations.
ACIP also voted to recommend shared clinical decision-making for parents accessing free vaccines through the federal Vaccines for Children program. This program provides a range of immunizations at no cost to children eligible for Medicaid or who are uninsured or underinsured.
Dr. Georgina Peacock, director of the CDC’s Immunization Services Division, indicated that, if approved, those immunizations would be covered by the Vaccines for Children program. Meanwhile, a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services official confirmed the new language concerning individual-based decision-making would not impact coverage of the vaccine without cost-sharing.
The CDC makes the final decision on vaccine recommendations but typically aligns its final policy with the advisory panel’s vote.
