The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to remove the long‑standing universal hepatitis B vaccine recommendation at birth for infants whose mothers test negative, instead urging parents to consult clinicians about timing and antibody testing. The 8–3 procedural vote and subsequent options to delay the first dose until two months have drawn immediate pushback from many public‑health experts who warned of increased vulnerability and gaps in coverage. ACIP’s deliberations have been repeatedly delayed amid contested wording and public outcry. The debate highlights a sharp rupture between the advisory panel’s majority position and the broader scientific consensus that the birth dose provides a critical safety net—especially given gaps in maternal screening and peripartum risk assessment.