Key facts
- US-backed hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau halted.
- Researchers cited lack of governmental approval as reason for halting the trial.
- The study was to be funded by the CDC and private foundations.
- Critics questioned the ethical implications of the trial's informed consent process.
- Guinea-Bissau plans to offer a universal birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine in 2028.
A controversial US-backed trial involving hepatitis B vaccines for newborns in Guinea-Bissau has been halted, according to lead researcher Frederik Schaltz-Buchholzer. He stated on LinkedIn that the study would not proceed in the country due to a lack of necessary governmental approval. The Minister of Health for Guinea-Bissau, Quinhin Nantote, had previously denied that the project would move forward. The proposed trial, which aimed to investigate potential non-specific mortality benefits of live vaccines, was to be funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private partners. Critics, including vaccines expert Paul Offit, argued the study was unethical and lacked biological sense, emphasizing the clear benefits of early hepatitis B vaccination. The government of Guinea-Bissau had taken control of the researchers' vaccines after searching the offices of the Bandim Health Project.