The long-standing practice of giving every newborn in the United States a hepatitis B shot is under fire. Connecticut lawmakers are sounding the alarm.
After a controversial move by a federal advisory panel to end universal hepatitis B vaccination for infants, top Connecticut Senate Democrats and federal leaders are worried. They say this change could undo decades of progress in stopping a deadly, preventable disease.
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CDC Panel Ends 34-Year Universal Hepatitis B Shot for Newborns
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s advisory committee just recommended ending the 34-year-old policy that all newborns get a hepatitis B vaccine. The new guideline would only suggest vaccination for infants whose mothers test positive for hepatitis B or for those whose mothers weren’t tested at all.
This shift is a big departure from what a lot of public health experts considered one of the simplest and most effective immunization strategies in the U.S.
Connecticut Senators Call Decision “Outlandish and Disturbing”
Connecticut Senate leaders didn’t hold back their criticism. Senate President Martin Looney, Majority Leader Bob Duff, and Sen. Saud Anwar released a joint statement calling the advisory committee’s decision “outlandish and disturbing.”
They warned that it undermines trust in future CDC vaccine recommendations. From New Haven to Hartford, parents count on science-driven guidance to keep their kids safe.
The senators argue that changing course now sends a risky message, especially when vaccine misinformation is already everywhere.
Why Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination Mattered
Universal newborn vaccination for hepatitis B started in 1991. Pediatric infectious disease experts say the policy cut infections in infants and teenagers across the country, including in Connecticut cities like Bridgeport, Stamford, and Waterbury.
Public health clinicians point out that hepatitis B often spreads silently. Many adults never realize they carry the virus, so targeted screening just isn’t enough to protect newborns.
Sen. Saud Anwar Cites Lives Saved
Sen. Saud Anwar, who’s both a physician and a top voice on health policy in the General Assembly, highlighted the real-world impact of the 1991 universal vaccination strategy. He pointed to data showing it’s prevented more than 500,000 infections and 90,000 deaths over the past three decades.
Anwar says universal vaccination nearly wiped out new childhood hepatitis B cases. For parents in places like Norwalk, Danbury, and New Britain, this is the kind of quiet public health win that doesn’t get much attention but really matters.
Political Influence and Conspiracy Concerns
Connecticut’s leaders are also asking what’s really driving the CDC advisory committee’s change. They argue the move is about politics and ideology, not science.
The committee’s membership was replaced earlier this year by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.. Kennedy’s known for his long history of criticizing vaccines.
Looney and Duff Point to Trump and Kennedy’s Role
Martin Looney accused Kennedy, with backing from former President Donald Trump, of turning the CDC into a platform for conspiracy theories instead of protecting public health. Looney says vaccine policy is now shaped by politics, not by doctors or decades of scientific data.
Bob Duff stressed that childhood hepatitis B infections have dropped by about 99% since the 1990s. He called the vaccine a “massive public health success” and said there’s no scientific basis for ending universal newborn protection.
Health Experts Warn of Eroding Trust in Vaccine Guidance
Worries about the hepatitis B recommendation aren’t just coming from lawmakers in Hartford. Former CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky publicly lamented what she called the loss of unified, science-based vaccine guidance.
Walensky urged Americans—even parents in West Hartford and New London—to keep trusting their doctors and pediatricians for vaccine advice, not politically influenced advisory panels.
Rep. John Larson Calls for Kennedy’s Resignation
Connecticut’s federal delegation is stepping in, too. U.S. Rep. John Larson called for Robert Kennedy Jr.’s resignation, accusing him of breaking down crucial vaccine advisory bodies and cutting funding for vaccine research.
Larson warned that the CDC’s new recommendation, pushed by conspiracy theories and anti-science rhetoric, could lead to preventable child deaths across the country. He says the stakes are especially high for working families in cities like Hartford and Bridgeport who count on steady, reliable public health protections.
What This Means for Connecticut Parents
Right now, Connecticut’s leaders say they’ll push back against the federal shift. They want to keep universal hepatitis B vaccination in place for newborns in the state’s hospitals.
Pediatricians in all kinds of communities—from Milford and Bristol to Middletown—plan to keep talking about hepatitis B shots as a routine part of newborn care.
If you’ve got questions about hepatitis B, vaccine safety, or what these federal recommendations really mean for your family, talk to your child’s doctor or your local health department.
State leaders seem pretty committed to keeping public health—and good science—at the center of this conversation, even as the political fight drags on.
Here is the source article for this story: CT Senate Leaders Vow To Continue State Hepatitis B Vaccine Policies After CDC Changes Recommendation
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