On December 5, 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to use individual/shared clinical decision‑making for the hepatitis B (HepB) birth dose for infants born to women who test negative for HepB.¹

Your patients’ coverage remains the same—Cigna Healthcare^® continues to cover the HepB vaccine at no cost, and our coverage policy has not changed.

ACIP recommendations

• Newborns of HepB surface antigen (HBsAg)‑negative mothers: Parents, in consultation with their provider, should decide when or if to give the HepB vaccine—including the birth dose. If deferred, ACIP suggests starting no earlier than two months of age.
• Newborns of HBsAg‑positive or unknown‑status mothers: The birth dose remains recommended, consistent with existing practice.¹

Why timely HepB vaccination still matters

Provider recommendations remain one of the strongest influences on a patient’s decision to vaccinate. Early HepB protection helps prevent lifelong liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.² Providers should ensure families receive clear guidance and on‑time vaccination.

• Continue universal HBsAg testing in pregnancy.
• For HBsAg‑negative mothers, discuss risks and benefits with parents to decide whether to administer the birth dose or defer it, considering household and community risk factors. For those with an HBsAg‑positive or unknown status, administer the birth dose.
• If parents defer the birth dose, schedule the first dose by the two‑month well visit, following the routine schedule.¹

Cigna Healthcare coverage and HEDIS measures

Routine vaccinations are typically covered at no cost to your patients with Cigna Healthcare coverage when administered at in-network locations, which your patients can find by logging in to myCigna.com or visiting Cigna.com > Find a Doctor.

Time frames for immunization administration are not included in the Preventive Care Services Coverage Policy (A004); therefore, this ACIP update does not impact coverage under the policy.

Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®)³ measures remain unchanged. For resources on speaking with patients about vaccinations and details on the HEDIS requirements, visit the Routine Immunizations and the Value of a Provider Recommendation web page.

1 ACIP Recommends Individual-Based Decision-Making for Hepatitis B Vaccine for Infants Born to Women Who Test Negative for the Virus | HHS.gov

2 ACIP: Statement on Changes to HBV Birth Dose Vaccine Recommendation

3 HEDIS is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).