The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to move away from a universal hepatitis B birth‑dose recommendation, replacing automatic newborn dosing with a framework that requires clinician discussion where maternal testing is negative. The panel’s decision—reached after chaotic meetings and multiple postponements—was met with opposition from many public‑health experts who warned about increased vulnerability and unclear evidence for the timing change. The debate focused on data gaps, wording of ballot questions, and ethical concerns raised publicly and within ACIP; several states and medical societies have already signaled alarm. Note: the ACIP recommendation typically guides the CDC’s official policy and state vaccination mandates.