Guinea — Bissau Halts US-Backed Hepatitis B Vaccine Study. Bissau, Guinea-Bissau — 2026-01-23 Lead Paragraph Guinea-Bissau has suspended a US-backed hepatitis B vaccine study on newborns following an emergency ethical review.
The halt comes after the country’s health minister revealed that a six-member ethics committee had never convened prior to the study’s approval, raising significant ethical concerns.
The study, which was to randomly vaccinate some newborns while withholding the vaccine from others, was intended to track illness, death, and development outcomes. Critics argue that such a trial is unethical in a country where hepatitis B is prevalent, as the vaccine is proven to protect against the disease. Body.
The study, which was to follow 14,000 newborns over a five-year period, was funded by a $1. 6 million no-bid contract from the United States to a Danish research team. This team has been linked to anti-vaccine controversies and has received praise from Health Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy Jr.
The decision to halt the study has been supported by the Africa CDC leadership, which emphasizes that public health decisions must prioritize the African population’s interests. Despite the halt, US health officials maintain that the study is still proceeding.
The situation has sparked a debate over the ethics of vaccine research, particularly in low — income countries where access to such treatments is critical. Ending.
The future of the study remains uncertain, with Guinea — Bissau’s health authorities conducting a thorough review.
Further details are expected as the situation develops.
