Weekly Healthcare Policy Round-Up

In this week’s Health Policy Round-Up, ALF shares the most up to date news happening in Washington DC.

• On August 10^th President Trump signed an executive order listing out new recommendations for childhood vaccinations. The order recommends limiting the number of vaccines recommended for children and splitting vaccines into tiers so that some are recommended for all children and others would be advised for children considered to be at higher risk. The executive order categorizes the hepatitis B vaccine as one recommended for high-risk children. Years of data show that the universal hepatitis B birth dose has reduced infant hepatitis B infections by 95% since its inception in 1991. Hepatitis B remains one of the leading causes of liver cancer. Vaccinating all children against hepatitis B, beginning at birth, has protected millions of children from chronic hepatitis B and liver cancer. ALF strongly recommends all infants and children continue to receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, regardless of risk factors.