The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to remove the universal recommendation that all newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, instead advising parents to consult clinicians if the mother tested negative. The panel’s motion passed after contentious debate and public pushback, with multiple votes and postponements underscoring deep divisions between some ACIP members and public‑health experts. Public‑health authorities and vaccine scientists warned the move could increase infant vulnerability during the early weeks of life and said evidence supporting the change was limited. The decision has immediate policy implications: the CDC typically adopts ACIP guidance and state immunization laws and school requirements could follow. The debate also surfaced broader tensions at federal health agencies over vaccine policy and advisory processes.