For over 30 years, Hoosier families have benefited from a simple, lifesaving safeguard: every newborn in Indiana receives the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. This protection has helped prevent cirrhosis, liver cancer, and lifelong illness—especially in children too young to fight off the virus on their own.

Now, that safeguard is under threat.

The CDC recently voted to weaken its longstanding recommendation for universal birth-dose hepatitis B vaccination. Under the new guidance, hospitals may delay the first dose if a mother tests negative during pregnancy. But testing isn't perfect. Prenatal care isn't universal. And missed opportunities—especially in rural counties or low-access communities—could mean more babies left unprotected.

Our state already faces some of the worst maternal and infant health outcomes in the country. Many counties lack basic prenatal services. Others don’t have a single hospital offering maternity care. Public health departments are underfunded, data systems are stretched thin, and immunization programs struggle to keep up.

We urge the Indiana Department of Health to issue a clear, public statement committing to universal birth-dose hepatitis B vaccination statewide. We ask all Indiana hospitals to continue offering the vaccine to every newborn, regardless of maternal status. And we call on Governor Mike Braun to make this part of his “Make Indiana Healthy Again” initiative.

Our children deserve better than silence and uncertainty. Let’s keep this decades-old protection in place and give Indiana families the peace of mind they deserve from the very start.

Sign now to tell Indiana: Don’t roll back protection for newborns. Keep the hepatitis B birth dose for all.

Photo: Kelly Wilkinson / IndyStar