President Donald Trump said Monday that hepatitis B is a sexually transmitted disease and suggested delaying the vaccine, which is currently administered at birth. He made the remarks during a Sept. 22 press conference with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other federal officials.
“Hepatitis B is sexually transmitted. There’s no reason to give a baby, that’s almost just born, hepatitis B. I would say, wait till the baby is 12 years old and formed and take hepatitis B,” Trump said.
He added, “I think if you do those things it’s going to be a whole different — it’s going to be a revolution, in a positive sense, in the country.”
Hepatitis B is a virus that causes liver inflammation and can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. While it can be spread through sexual contact, there are also other common transmission methods.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) notes that hepatitis B has been difficult to control in the U.S. because it can be spread by casual contact and because many infected people do not know they carry the virus. CHOP estimates that between three-quarters of a million to two million people in the U.S. are chronically infected.
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The virus can survive for up to seven days on surfaces. Because it is heavily concentrated in blood, even minimal contact with contaminated blood can transmit the infection. Sharing items like washcloths, razors, or toothbrushes can spread hepatitis B, as can contact sports or improperly sanitized medical equipment.
CHOP also explains that about half of young children with hepatitis B are infected by their mothers at birth, while others contract it from family members.
“For these reasons, all young children are recommended to receive the hepatitis B vaccine,” the hospital says. “The best time to receive the first dose is right after birth. This will ensure that the child will be protected as quickly as possible since many people don’t know that they are infected with the virus.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends giving the vaccine at birth, stating that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices advises hepatitis B vaccination for all newborns. The agency adds that the vaccine is highly effective, with immunity lasting at least 30 years for those who begin the series before six months of age.
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As CHOP points out, young children often do not show symptoms of infection, making it difficult to identify cases early. Infections acquired during childhood also carry a higher risk of cirrhosis or liver cancer later in life.
Trump concluded his remarks by saying his views on vaccines were based on personal belief rather than medical consensus. “I’m making these statements from me … I’m not making them from them, these doctors,” he said.
