Guinea-Bissau has stopped a US-backed hepatitis B vaccine study on newborns due to ethical concerns. The country’s health minister said the six-member ethics committee never met before approving the trial.
The study planned to vaccinate some newborns and withhold the vaccine from others. Researchers would track illness, deaths, and development over five years. Critics argue this approach is unethical because, according to them, the vaccine is already proven to protect babies in a country where hepatitis B is common.
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Africa CDC welcomed the pause, stressing that public health decisions should benefit African communities, not foreign interests.
US health authorities maintain the study is moving forward. A $1.6 million no-bid contract funds a Danish research team linked to anti-vaccine controversies and praised by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The study aimed to follow 14,000 newborns over five years. Now, its future remains unclear.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
