Hepatitis Caucus Co-Chairs Velázquez and Johnson Reintroduce Resolution Recognizing World Hepatitis Day Amid Growing Threats to Vaccine Access

WASHINGTON– Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) reintroduced a resolution recognizing July 28, 2025 as World Hepatitis Day raising awareness about the issues surrounding hepatitis B and C and reaffirming Congress’s commitment to ending these preventable diseases.
 
Each year, thousands of Americans die of viral hepatitis, and another 75,000 are infected. Worldwide, an estimated 520 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B and C, and an estimated 1.3 million die annually. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C—and the liver disease they cause—remain urgent global health threats, disproportionately impacting communities of color, LGBTQ individuals, and people who inject drugs.
 
“Far too many Americans have died because of hepatitis, a viral disease that disproportionately affects communities of color and the LGBTQ community,” said Congresswoman Velázquez. “I’m proud to reintroduce this resolution recognizing hepatitis as a public health priority. With increased public education, improved testing, and access to treatment, we can turn the tide on this epidemic. But we also must remain vigilant against misinformation and political interference that puts decades of public health progress at risk.”
 
“I am proud to reintroduce this resolution along with Congresswoman Velázquez to bring more awareness to hepatitis research,” said Congressman Johnson (GA-04). “With our nation’s scientific institutions under attack, it is important, now more than ever, that we continue to fund research, education and prevention efforts, and access to testing. We must reaffirm our commitment to eradicate hepatitis and provide hope to those living with it.”
 
In recent months, growing concerns have emerged about efforts by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to undermine longstanding, evidence-based vaccine policies—posing a direct threat to hepatitis B prevention. Kennedy took the unprecedented step of firing all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Under his leadership, the newly constituted ACIP has moved to revisit longstanding vaccine recommendations, including the universal hepatitis B birth dose. The committee’s review has alarmed public health experts and advocates, who fear a rollback in vaccine access.
 
In response, Velázquez and Johnson wrote to Secretary Kennedy in June to stress the critical role of the hepatitis B birth dose in preventing new infections and reducing the risk of liver cancer and urging him to maintain longstanding federal recommendations for hepatitis A and B vaccinations.
 
In addition to reshaping federal vaccine policy, Kennedy has made repeated false claims about vaccine safety. Last month, he claimed—without evidence—that the CDC conducted a study showing the hepatitis B vaccine increases the risk of autism and that the agency deliberately hid the results from the public. This assertion has been widely discredited by public health experts and contradicts decades of rigorous research.
 
Kennedy’s leadership has also coincided with the suspension of U.S. support for critical global health institutions, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Health Organization (WHO), and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, putting hepatitis prevention programs abroad in serious jeopardy.
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has designated viral hepatitis a public health priority, and the Department of Health and Human Services continues to implement its Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan aimed at eliminating viral hepatitis. Despite this progress, diagnosis remains a significant barrier. Only 10% of people with chronic hepatitis B and 21% with chronic hepatitis C know their status. More accessible testing and continued investments in prevention and treatment are urgently needed.
 
“This World Hepatitis Day is a critical moment to recognize the global scale of the hepatitis B crisis. Hepatitis B is a virus that kills more than 1.1 million people each year and disproportionately impacts communities that have long been underserved. We are grateful to Congresswoman Velázquez and the Congressional Hepatitis Caucus for championing the resolution to bring national attention to this silent epidemic,” said Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH, President of the Hepatitis B Foundation. “The United States must maintain leadership and investment in viral hepatitis to ensure that every person has access to the hepatitis B vaccine, screening, and affordable care and treatment. These are proven tools, and no one should die from a preventable disease.”
 
“Eliminating hepatitis B is not just a medical goal; it’s a health equity imperative," said Frank Hood, MPS, Director of Hep B United. "Too many communities, especially Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and African immigrants, continue to face systemic barriers to prevention and care. On World Hepatitis Day, Hep B United is proud to stand with Representative Velázquez and our partners across the country to call for investments in hepatitis B education, access, and prevention.”
 
“World Hepatitis Day calls us to honor those we've lost to viral hepatitis, celebrate the community champions bringing hope for eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat, and recommit to collaborating on effective prevention, diagnosis, and cure for all," said Daniel Raymond, Director of Policy at the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR). "We urge our allies, partners, and leaders to recognize the promise and urgency of tackling viral hepatitis as a policy priority, and protecting the health of millions of people in the United States and worldwide.”
 
The resolution is endorsed by: African Life Centre, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Liver Foundation, Ann R Thomas, LLC, Asian Health Coalition, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, Caring Ambassadors Program, Center for Disease Analysis Foundation, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, Community Liver Alliance, Empire Liver Foundation, End Hep C SF, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Center, Health Betterment Initiative (HBI), Hepatitis B Foundation, Hep B United, Hep B United Philadelphia, Hep Free Hawai‘i, HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, Illinois Public Health Association, Korean Community Services of Metropolitan NY, Kumukahi Health + Wellness, LiverRight, Malama Pono Health Services, Maui AIDS Foundation, Mission Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Montefiore Starfish Program, National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR), North East Medical Services (NEMS), Robert G. Gish Consultants, The AIDS Institute, USMANGHANI, and Vital Access Care Foundation.
 
A PDF of the resolution can be found here.

###