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Lawmakers weigh removing hepatitis B from school immunization mandate as department warns of risk
Summary
Rep. Kelly Potenza introduced HB1719 to remove hepatitis B from the list of required childhood immunizations, aligning state policy with recent ACIP guidance; DHHS, pediatricians and nursing groups warned that removing the required birth dose could raise infection risk and outbreak costs, while sponsors argued for parental choice and targeted vaccination.
Representative Kelly Potenza returned to the House Health Committee to introduce HB1719, a bill to remove hepatitis B from New Hampshire’s list of immunizations required for school and child‑care entry. Potenza said the change would align state law with recent updates that place the infant birth dose into a shared clinical decision‑making category.
Why it matters: Potenza argued the change preserves parental choice and follows federal ACIP guidance. "This bill simply aligns state policy with that updated guidance," she told the committee, adding that the legislation does not ban hepatitis B vaccination and preserves access for infants at risk.
Public health…
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