# Hepatitis B birth dose studies

Lifestyle · Heat 2.5 / 10 · 2 shows · 4m airtime

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.

Page: https://boilpoints.com/point/hepatitis_b_birth_dose_studies_1400051965

## Segments

- [What the Health? From KFF Health News](https://boilpoints.com/u/whatthehealthfromkffhealthnews), 2026-10-22, 16:45 to 19:02: **Covers two models of ending the birth dose**. Covers two new studies modeling the end of the hepatitis B birth dose recommendation: an Annals model finding half of children could reach adulthood susceptible and an 80 percent-plus case increase, and a Kaiser Permanente study finding most young children were exposed by someone other than their mother. New angle: An Annals model finds ending the birth dose could leave half of children susceptible at adulthood and raise cases more than 80 percent.
- [This Week in Virology](https://boilpoints.com/u/thisweekinvirology), 2026-10-24, 2:15 to 4:12: **Retells the birth-dose model and the criticism**. Walks through the Annals model's numbers - the 19 percent and 83 percent increases in chronic HBV infections in the 2026 birth cohort and the susceptible count at age 20 - then turns to criticism of Kennedy for changing the schedule without scientific justification. A detailed retelling of the study already on the record.