Another Crack in Vaccine Dogma: US Drops Universal Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns

The recommendation for all babies in the US to have a Hepatitis B vaccine on the first day of life has been revoked in what can only be described as a win for science and common sense – seemingly rare in the current very difficult climate for medical truth.  The US ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices) made this decision in early December 2025 as part of the move to more science-based vaccine recommendations. 

The purpose of the Hepatitis B vaccine is to prevent the long term results of chronic infection, which include cirrhosis (scarring) and liver cancer.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection which affects the liver.  The main routes of infection are by contact with infected blood or body fluids, sexual intercourse, or intravenous drug use.

In addition, a baby can be infected if a mother has a Hepatitis B infection during childbirth. Infection as a baby is much more likely to result in chronic infection than infection in later childhood or in adulthood.  This maternal transmission is effectively the only way a baby can get Hepatitis B.

The vast majority of people who come into contact with Hepatitis B will have an acute illness, recover and develop life long immunity.  A few people (presumably with less robust immune systems due to illness, medication, poor nutrition or environmental and lifestyle factors) will not clear the virus and will go on to have a chronic viral infection, which if not treated over decades, can lead to liver cirrhosis and/or liver cancer.

In the US, instead of offering immunisation to just the very small number of at-risk babies (determined by antenatal blood test), every baby has long been recommended to get a Hep B vaccine on the day of birth.

The two Hepatitis B vaccines used in the US for this birth dose are Engerix B and Recombivax, both made using genetic engineering technology.  Before being licensed these vaccines had grossly inadequate evidence of safety, with clinical trial follow up limited to only 4 and 5 days respectively!  There were no inert placebos and the number of participants in the clinical trials was far too small to find uncommon or rare adverse events. Evidence suggests a statistically significant increased risk of developmental disabilities associated with the Hepatitis B vaccine given in childhood in the 1990s. Learn more from political economist and autism researcher Toby Rogers.

So, this vaccine was essentially all risk and no benefit for the vast majority of US children.

It has taken over 20 years for common sense to prevail and for the vaccine to be recommended only to those who stand to benefit.

So has this 2 decades of use proved it is safe? In addition to the increased risk of developmental disabilities, other uncomfortable research emerged suggesting increased risk of autoimmune diseases but this has been given neither the time, nor the light of day, by authorities previously. And, as with the increasing tangle of all vaccinations given, especially in the first year of life, very little research has tried to tease out their individual effects. 

New Zealand Situation

All mothers who have antenatal care in NZ get screened for Hepatitis B infection, so it is known prior to birth whether a baby is at risk.

Those babies whose mothers have a Hepatitis B infection are recommended to get a birth dose of Hepatitis B vaccine in NZ, as well as Hepatitis B immunoglobulin, and then continue with the schedule that is recommended for all children.  In NZ the approved and funded vaccine for this purpose is Engerix B.  Checking of immune status at 9 months is then recommended.

All other babies are recommended to get Hep B as part of the six-in-one vaccine (DTaP-IPV-HepB/Hib) administered at 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months.

If NZ parents decide their baby is not at risk of Hepatitis B and they would rather avoid the risks of the vaccine, there is no easy way to opt out as it comes as part of the six-in-one vaccine.

However, the other 5 diseases can be covered by 2 separate vaccines available in NZ:

• DTaP-IPV covers four diseases – diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio.  This is more commonly used as a booster at age 4 years but could be given for the primary course.
• Hib covers Haemophilus influenzae type B.  This is more commonly used as a booster at age 15 mths but could be given for the primary course.

Another Chink in the Armour of Vaccine Dogma

We welcome the various signs that US vaccine committees are prepared to ask hard questions, demand proper science, make recommendations to match what is and isn’t known and increasingly respect parental autonomy. We urge our own authorities to follow suit. After all, our new Medicines Amendment Act 2025​​​​​​​ (Royal assent 18 Nov 2025) allows Medsafe to rubberstamp any new drug that already has been approved by 2 “reputable” overseas equivalents. Surely then it should take note of any reversals by behemoth health agencies in the US. 

As with all the vaccines recommended in childhood, we advise parents to learn about the diseases, learn about the vaccines and make an informed decision as to whether or not the benefits of each vaccine outweigh the risks for their particular child.