Atlanta, Georgia – Big wahala don show for US as dem vote to stop recommending hepatitis B vaccines for newborns right after dem born. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) carry this matter for head and dem vote 8-3 to support individual decision for parents. E be like say people no wan wan make am universal anymore.
Before now, since 1991, every newborn suppose collect dis vaccine wahala as part of dem first care. Na strong strategy wey don save over 90,000 lives but now, things don change. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., wey no too believe for vaccines, don make changes for the ACIP, replacing members wey dey question vaccines. Na wetin dem call ‘show of hands’ work, abi wetin be this?
Minutes after the decision drop, President Donald Trump don call for a full review of all childhood vaccination recommendations. Na wah! He don mention say some countries dey recommend fewer shots for children. So him dey pressure health officials to look for ‘better way’ wey fit protect children.
But medical experts dey vex about the vote. Dem dey fear say this new guideline go make some parents start to dey doubt vaccination. Dr. Cody Meissner wey get decades of experience for liver health, talk say, “Dis vaccine dey very safe and effective. Changing this recommendation fit make more children catch Hepatitis B.” As e dey so, babies wey no get the first shot fit wait till dem dey two months before dem fit start this vaccination journey.
Some ACIP members wey support the new law argue say the risk of catching Hepatitis B na small, but critics dey serious say this na mistake. Dem remind everybody say dis virus fit spread anyhow and e dey crucial say babies get their first dose quickly.
As we talk, some states don sit down for their own side, dem dey ignore this new decision and dey urge hospitals to continue with the birth dose. Maryland’s health department no gree sit down, dem still dey tell hospitals to dey give the hep B vaccination to all newborns as usual, just like before.
The debate no finish as many experts dey talk say delay go only create more issues. Dr. Sean O’Leary from the American Academy of Pediatrics don shout for this issue too. He emphasize say, “One missed case plenty pass ten”. De way forward be say, we have to make sure say all children dey receive the needed vaccines, no matter wetin happen.
Overall, e dey clear say this changing recommendation don bring more questions than answers. As padi, we fit only hope sey dem go reconsider the health of our children well well, wey more important pass any political talk.
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