The First Needle
A growing debate inside U.S. public health institutions may reshape how millions of newborns are treated in their first hours of life. As the CDC considers ending the universal hepatitis B birth dose for infants of negative-testing mothers, former officials and major media outlets launch a coordinated push to preserve the mandate. Critics highlight a mismatch between risk and policy, concerns over aluminum exposure, and the multibillion-dollar vaccine market driving resistance to change. This quiet but pivotal moment exposes deeper questions about health freedom, informed consent, and whether the future of vaccine policy will prioritize precision or mass mandates.