Pediatric Experts Respond After RFK Jr. Pushes To Slow Down Hepatitis B Vaccination

Practicing within a tribal-owned medical facility in Anchorage, Alaska, liver expert Brian McMahon has dedicated years to combating the persistent impact of hepatitis B. Prior to the availability of a vaccine in the 1980s, he witnessed the virus claim young lives in swift succession within western Alaskan communities. One patient, a 17-year-old valedictorian, tragically succumbed to liver cancer induced by hepatitis B just weeks before graduation. McMahon recalls an 8-year-old boy who initially showed no symptoms until he expressed pain from a fast-growing liver tumor, ultimately passing away just a week later. The virus, which survives on surfaces and can be transmitted through bodily fluids, is largely preventable today through timely vaccination. Since 1991, a birth dose can effectively safeguard newborns if administered within 24 hours. However, recent discussions by health authorities may risk curtailing access to this critical vaccine, raising concerns about the resurgence of hepatitis B in communities.

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