On November 24, 2025, the New York State Department of Health, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Northeast Public Health Collaborative issued an advisory. The advisory recommends that all newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. This announcement comes before a federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting on December 4 and 5, where changes to the infant hepatitis B vaccine schedule will be discussed.
The advisory states that newborns whose birth parents test positive for hepatitis B, or whose status is unknown, should get the vaccine within 12 hours of delivery. The Department also recommends that children complete the full hepatitis B vaccine series by 18 months, following American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines.
Health officials note that hepatitis B infection in infants can lead to chronic disease in about 90 percent of cases. Up to one in four of these children may die from related complications. Dr. James McDonald, New York State Health Commissioner, and Dr. Michelle Morse, Acting Commissioner of the NYC Health Department, both emphasized the importance of timely vaccination and advised against delaying the birth dose…