12/13/2025
Despite the CDC changing its recommendation that all babies be vaccinated against hepatitis B at birth, the NH Department of Health and Human Services continues to encourage parents to start baby's three-dose vaccine regimen within 24 hours of delivery. As our Dartmouth Health Children's physician-in-chief Keith Loud, MD, MSc, told WMUR-TV, w ewill also continue to promote hep B vaccination, which is proven to be safe and highly effective, for newborns.
"There is no evidence to our knowledge that there's any worry about the safety of the hepatitis B vaccine given in the newborn period, and we know how effective it is," Dr. Loud said. "So, it's a real head-scratcher as to why we would soften a recommendation that's been so effective and safe for so long."