Hepatitis B vaccine safety has been called into question by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a newly appointed panel, but infectious disease experts disagree.
Kennedy claimed that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a study showing the vaccine increases the risk of autism, but the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) could not find any evidence to support this claim.
According to Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, there is no link between hepatitis B vaccination and autism. The CDC recommends vaccinating newborns to prevent the virus, which can cause liver inflammation, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
Studies have shown that vaccination has dramatically decreased cases of hepatitis B among children in the US, with a rate of less than 0.1 per 100,000 in 2022. Experts argue that the vaccine is safe and effective, and that adding vaccines to the immunization schedule provides more protection against diseases.
Chin-Hong also explained that modern vaccines are designed to deliver smaller amounts of the virus or bacteria, reducing exposure to antigens. The reanalysis of well-studied vaccines like the hepatitis B vaccine does not indicate an initial approval process was unsafe.
In reality, high-quality studies have consistently found no link between vaccines and autism. Kennedy’s claims are based on unfounded evidence, which can put public health at risk. Experts emphasize the importance of vaccination in preventing hepatitis B and protecting against liver diseases.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/rfk-jr-cdc-panel-casting-doubt-hepatitis-vaccine/story?id=123423585