Denver Recommends Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns

Denver Recommends Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns

Published on December 08, 2025

You may have seen headlines or social media posts about changes to the hepatitis B vaccine recommendation for newborns. We want to clarify what's changed, what hasn't, and what it means for families in Denver.

What happened?

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a federal advisory group that makes vaccine recommendations, recently voted to change its recommendation for the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. Since 1991, the committee has recommended that all newborns receive the vaccine shortly after birth. This approach has helped reduce hepatitis B infections in children by 99% nationwide.

Now, instead of recommending the vaccine for all newborns, ACIP is advising that parents and providers make the decision together through a process called "shared clinical decision-making."

This change does not affect existing vaccine requirements for child care or school attendance in Colorado.

What does this mean for Denver families?

The experts at DDPHE continue to recommend that all newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. This is based on decades of scientific evidence showing that the vaccine is safe, effective, and one of the best tools we have to prevent serious liver disease and cancer later in life.

We also know that nearly 1 in 3 families in Colorado go without early prenatal care. That means some parents may not know their hepatitis B status at the time of delivery. In these cases, the birth dose of the vaccine may be the only protection a newborn has.

Why is the vaccine important?

Hepatitis B is a virus that can be passed from parent to baby during childbirth. If a baby becomes infected, the virus can stay in their body for life and lead to serious health problems, including liver cancer. The birth dose of the vaccine helps prevent this.

The hepatitis B vaccine has been studied for more than 30 years and has one of the strongest safety records of any childhood vaccine.

What should parents know?

• You can still choose the standard 3-dose hepatitis B vaccine series for your baby. DDPHE recommends that all newborns receive the vaccine.
• The vaccine is safe, effective, and covered by insurance.
• No extra blood tests or appointments are needed when following the standard schedule.

Some of the new guidance suggests using a blood test to decide whether additional doses are needed. However, this approach is not well supported by evidence and may lead to confusion or delays in protection.

Our commitment

We understand that changes in vaccine guidance can be confusing. Our goal is to provide clear, evidence-based information so families can make informed decisions. We remain committed to protecting the health of Denver's residents and supporting parents and providers with trusted guidance.

If you have questions about the hepatitis B vaccine or your child's immunization schedule, talk to your health care provider or reach out to the DDPHE nursing team at [email protected].

• Public Health & Environment