The American Medical Association (AMA) has voiced strong criticism against recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. According to Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, an AMA trustee, the committee’s decision is “reckless” and undermines established medical advice regarding Hepatitis B vaccinations.
Dr. Fryhofer expressed her dismay in a statement, calling the move by ACIP—short for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—a departure from long-standing guidelines that have been crucial to preventing infant diseases. She emphasized that this recommendation disregards “scientific evidence” and could cause confusion among parents seeking proper protection for their newborns.
The committee has now suggested administering the birth dose only when infants’ mothers test positive for Hepatitis B, which is a significant shift from previous practices. For those not at immediate risk due to negative maternal tests, vaccination should occur later—typically waiting until children are two months old or more if decided by parents with their physician guidance.
Dr. Fryhofer implored CDC Director Jim O’Neill to reject these new guidelines. “The AMA calls on ACIP to correct this error,” she stated. “We urge the director to uphold the scientific integrity of our public health institutions.”
This reversal has drawn attention from President Donald Trump, who praised the committee’s decision via his social media platform Truth Social as a wise and necessary move, reducing unnecessary vaccinations for most newborns.
Furthermore, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy ordered a review of global vaccine schedules after supporting this adjustment, signaling further scrutiny on childhood immunization protocols in the United States.
