The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory panel voted Friday to change the recommendation for when children should get their first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. Instead of a first dose within 24 hours of birth — as the CDC has advised for more than 30 years — the panel voted to recommend delaying it until a child is 2 months old for children born to mothers who test negative for the virus.

ACIP votes to nix recommendation for universal hepatitis B birth-dose shot.

The federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice voted 8-3 on Dec. 5 that women who test negative for the Hepatitis B virus should consult with their health care provider to decide when or whet...