US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has questioned the safety of the vaccine and downplayed the risk of contracting the virus.

Public health experts warn any delay to the newborn dose of the hepatitis B vaccine could threaten decades of progress.

The current recommendation for babies to receive a hepatitis B shot within 24 hours of birth is credited with driving down infections in kids by 99%.

US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has questioned the safety of the vaccine and downplayed the risk of contracting the virus.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine panel on Thursday delayed a vote on the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns.

An influential CDC panel may recommend significant delays in hepatitis B vaccinations for children. Here's what could happen.

The group said babies born to mothers who don't have the virus should make "individual-based" decisions.

Some public health experts expressed concerns the recommendation could lead to an increase in hepatitis B infections in babies.