US vaccine panel votes to end universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns

Trump, who called the decision "very good", has directed the health department to look into making more changes to childhood vaccinations.

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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (Acip) voted 8-3 to back "individual-based decision-making" on whether to vaccinate babies born to mothers who have tested negative for the liver infection.

In June, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, a vaccine sceptic, fired all the members of the Acip and replaced them with others who are critical of vaccines.

The US has recommended vaccinating newborns against hepatitis B since 1991, and data suggests that since then, the shots have prevented an estimated 90,000 deaths.

Hours after the decision, President Donald Trump ordered his top health officials to review all childhood vaccination recommendations in the US.