Annals of Internal Medicine published a model on October 22, 2026 estimating the fallout of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s move to stop recommending the hepatitis B birth dose. The model finds half of all children could enter adulthood susceptible to the virus and that cases could rise more than 80 percent. The discussion weighs whether such projections change minds, and Bill Cassidy's earlier warning remains part of the argument.