The West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA), along with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and several national medical organizations, has reaffirmed its recommendation that all newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. This stance comes in response to a recent decision by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to end the universal recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination at birth.
According to WCHA, this change in policy could reverse decades of progress in reducing pediatric hepatitis B infections. “The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has voted to end the universal recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination for all infants at birth—a strategy that has reduced pediatric hepatitis B infections in the United States by 99 percent. The ACIP also voted that parents should consult their provider regarding blood tests following each dose of the vaccine series. There was no credible evidence presented to support either of these changes. Delaying the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine and using blood tests to guide vaccination will lead to more children and adults developing preventable liver disease and liver cancer with no evidence of a safety benefit,” WCHA stated.
A review conducted by the Vaccine Integrity Project found no safety advantage in delaying the first dose of the vaccine. The report indicated that postponing vaccination increases infection risk and can reduce completion rates for the full vaccine series, which is necessary for long-term protection.
Hepatitis B is described as a highly infectious virus that targets the liver, potentially causing chronic illness, liver cancer, or death. Before universal infant vaccination began in 1991, thousands of children were infected annually in the United States. Infants are particularly vulnerable; up to 90 percent who contract hepatitis B at birth develop chronic infection, and about a quarter die prematurely from related diseases.
WCHA emphasized: “The hepatitis B vaccine is effective, well tolerated, and decades of global data support its safety. It should continue to be offered to all parents at birth. Universal vaccination of newborns within 24 hours of birth, followed by completion of the vaccination series, is essential to protecting infants and young children, who are at greatest risk from complications from hepatitis B.”
The alliance was formed by California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii with an aim to ensure public health recommendations remain grounded in science amid concerns over federal leadership changes and transparency issues.
WCHA’s goals include providing credible information to the public, reducing confusion around public health guidance, aligning with respected professional organizations on policy statements, sharing best practices among members, and advocating for preventive service coverage.
The group outlined its guiding principles: affirming health as a right; leading with scientific integrity; maintaining transparency; prioritizing public health responsibility; promoting equity; respecting tribal sovereignty; and supporting coverage for preventive services.
WCHA plans ongoing evaluation of national public health policies and will issue unified position statements based on reviews from clinical and scientific organizations using evidence-based methodologies.
