By: Richard L. Smith
The Northeast Public Health Collaborative has released a consensus statement reaffirming its recommendation that all newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine dose at birth. 
The guidance follows the Collaborative’s review of medical literature and professional recommendations on infant hepatitis B prevention.
According to the Collaborative, newborns should receive a hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of delivery, while infants born to parents who test positive for hepatitis B, or whose infection status is unknown, should be vaccinated within 12 hours.
The group also advises that all children complete the full vaccine series by 18 months of age.
These recommendations align with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ official immunization schedule.
The Collaborative stated it hopes the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will continue to endorse the same approach.
In its statement, the Collaborative encouraged families to consult licensed health professionals and to rely on trusted medical sources when making decisions about their children’s health.
It also urged the public to be cautious about circulating or acting on unverified health claims.
The Northeast Public Health Collaborative is a voluntary coalition of public health agencies that work together to strengthen regional readiness, improve coordination, and support evidence-based public health practices.
New Jersey Acting Health Commissioner Jeff Brown also voiced support for the established vaccination schedule and emphasized the importance of the birth dose.
His remarks were provided in the Collaborative’s release.
“Every new parent wants their baby to thrive. Hepatitis B is a serious risk and can cause lifelong health complications,” Brown said. “We can protect against these risks by vaccinating babies during the delivery hospitalization at the very beginning of their lives. The hepatitis B vaccine at birth has saved millions of people from developing chronic liver disease, and it’s why pediatricians have recommended this vaccination schedule since 1991.”