US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a national public health agency in the United States, responsible for protecting public health and safety through the control and prevention of disease, injury, and disability. Recently, the CDC has become newsworthy due to changes in its vaccine recommendations, specifically regarding hepatitis B and influenza. The agency's advisory panel voted to limit the universal hepatitis B vaccine recommendation for newborns, now advising it only for babies whose mothers test positive or have unknown status. This decision, influenced by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has drawn criticism and accusations of a "regressive approach" to established vaccine practices. Furthermore, the CDC's messaging on flu shots has been perceived as mixed, even as the US experiences a severe flu season, raising concerns among experts about public health. These changes have prompted international reactions, with Hong Kong health authorities cautioning against blindly following the US's revised immunization schedules.