I recently had new parents ask to postpone the hepatitis B vaccine until adolescence because they believed federal health leaders had evidence that people only become infected through sexual activity or contaminated needle use.

A federal vaccine advisory committee has voted to end a longstanding recommendation that all U.S. babies get the hepatitis B vaccine on the day they’re born.

"This is about the health and safety of our children. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe, effective and lifesaving," Gov. Maura Healey said Friday.

The CDC's vaccine advisory committee voted on Friday to remove the universal recommendation for the hepatitis B vaccine at birth.

As RFK Jr.'s new vaccine panel ponders changing the hepatitis B vaccination schedule, some doctors recall past patients, including children, who died painful deaths before there was a vaccine.