Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine committee deferred crucial votes on hepatitis B vaccines for babies until Friday. The CDC recommends every baby get vaccinated within 24 hours of birth. Some panel members have called for more discussion on the matter due to concerns about potential risks.

The panel, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, has the power to influence whether private insurance plans and government programs cover vaccines for children. If the recommendation changes, it could lead to fewer newborns being vaccinated against hepatitis B, potentially increasing chronic infections among children.

Hepatitis B can be passed from mother to baby during childbirth, leading to liver disease and early death. The birth dose recommendation introduced in 1991 has been credited with reducing infections in kids by 99%. The AAP still recommends the universal birth dose because it saves lives.

A new review of over 400 studies found no evidence that delaying the universal hepatitis B vaccine birth dose improves safety or effectiveness. Merck and GSK manufacture the vaccines used at birth, but changing the recommendation could cause vaccine supply disruptions for the companies.

Public health experts stress the importance of timely vaccination to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Dr. Richard Haupt of Merck warned that reconsidering the vaccination schedule could pose a grave risk to children’s health and public safety.

Read more at CNBC: RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel defers vote on hepatitis B shot for babies