Means was pressed by both a Democratic and a Republican senator on the committee about her past criticism of the use of the Hepatitis B vaccine for newborns. Means has criticized the blanket use of the vaccine for babies, both on social media and on a podcast with Tucker Carlson, saying Hepatitis B is contracted through sexual disease and drug use.
But Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, said the disease is far more transmissible than sexual contact, and is also being transmitted through ordinary community contact.
“In Western Alaska, where we see Hep B as endemic, we find that it’s being spread through mosquitos bites where a child is itching an arm, ordinary household, community contact,” Murkowski said. “Whether it’s sharing food, toothbrushes, and minor injuries. And so this is where, this is where many in my state are looking at this and saying, ‘We have been able to turn the corner on this.’ We’re no longer seeing children with liver cancer, with this liver disease. And it is because the Hepatitis B vaccine has been made available to them at birth. My hope is that as you are communicating the value of childhood vaccines, that demonstrated, positive results of vaccines just like this would be communicated and not just, ‘Everybody needs to consult with their doctor.'”
Democratic Sen. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland brought up a past tweet in which she said Means suggested vaccinating newborns with the Hepatitis B vaccine is a crime. Means said she “supports vaccines” and the tweet was taken “out of context.”
Means said this administration is continually studying the vaccine schedule.
“I think there’s a nuanced conversation that American families are looking to have about shared clinical decisionmaking with their doctors about specific vaccines that their children may not be as seriously at risk for,” she said.
Cassidy asked Means, “Do you agree with the need for universal Hepatitis B immunization?”
“I think right now any parent in America can walk into their pediatrician’s office and get access to the Hepatitis B vaccine for their child if they want it,” she said. Cassidy repeatedly asked her if she sees universal Hepatitis B vaccination as a goal. Eventually, Means said vaccination at some point in childhood would be a good goal.