Why a US-funded vaccine trial on babies was cancelled in Guinea-Bissau
A US-funded hepatitis B vaccine trial for newborns in Guinea-Bissau has been cancelled following accusations of unethical practices. Critics argued that withholding a WHO-recommended vaccine from half the participants was dangerous and exploitative.
Why it matters
The incident raises significant ethical questions about international medical research standards and the treatment of vulnerable populations in developing nations.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Like many neighbouring countries, Guinea-Bissau waits until babies are six weeks old to vaccinate them against hepatitis B, while the WHO says it should be done at birth (file photo)
A proposed trial of a hepatitis B vaccine on newborn babies in Guinea-Bissau has been cancelled following accusations that the trial was "unethical" and "neocolonial".
The trial was funded by the US, under Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has a long record of expressing scepticism about vaccines.
Police have seized a batch of vaccines from the research centre at the heart of the controversy.
The proposed trial drew international criticism because it planned to withhold a vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) from half of the participating newborns.
Also covering this story
2 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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