US-Funded Study on Hepatitis B Vaccines in Guinea-Bissau Canceled Due to Ethical Concerns
A highly contentious US-funded study on administering hepatitis B vaccines to newborns in Guinea-Bissau has been abruptly halted due to mounting ethical concerns. The $1.6 million research project, backed by Robert F Kennedy Jr., a long-time vaccine skeptic and former Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), was widely criticized for its potential to deprive thousands of children of vital protection against the disease.
According to senior officials at the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the study's design raised significant concerns about withholding vaccines proven to be effective in preventing hepatitis B. The CDC officials, led by Yap Boum, have welcomed the cancellation, citing the need for research to be conducted within established norms and guidelines.
Guinea-Bissau officials, however, claim that the trial will proceed once it has been redesigned to address these concerns. The country's current vaccination schedule will remain in place until the birth dose is implemented for all newborns in 2027.
The cancellation of this study comes as a relief for advocates who have long argued against unethical research practices in Africa. Paul Offit, an infectious diseases physician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, described the development as "extremely heartening," highlighting the need to stand up against such studies and protect vulnerable populations.
Experts say that this cancellation represents a turning point for Guinea-Bissau and other countries where researchers are conducting work that critics deem unethical. Boghuma Titanji, an assistant professor of medicine at Emory University, emphasized the importance of research being conducted with ethics in mind and led by African scientists and powered by questions from Africans.
The study's design was met with skepticism due to concerns about potential nonspecific effects of adding other vaccines beyond the primary vaccine target. Researchers on the project argued that these interactions might be beneficial for overall health but lacked robust evidence to support their claims.
Notably, some Danish researchers associated with the study have been criticized for questioning the effectiveness of vaccines and not publishing results from a previous study on the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine. The cancellation has also drawn attention to potential conflicts of interest among researchers involved in the project, including ties to Trump administration health officials.
As the world continues to grapple with the complexities of vaccination research and ethics, this cancellation serves as a vital reminder of the need for rigorous oversight and accountability in scientific research, particularly when it comes to vulnerable populations.
A highly contentious US-funded study on administering hepatitis B vaccines to newborns in Guinea-Bissau has been abruptly halted due to mounting ethical concerns. The $1.6 million research project, backed by Robert F Kennedy Jr., a long-time vaccine skeptic and former Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), was widely criticized for its potential to deprive thousands of children of vital protection against the disease.
According to senior officials at the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the study's design raised significant concerns about withholding vaccines proven to be effective in preventing hepatitis B. The CDC officials, led by Yap Boum, have welcomed the cancellation, citing the need for research to be conducted within established norms and guidelines.
Guinea-Bissau officials, however, claim that the trial will proceed once it has been redesigned to address these concerns. The country's current vaccination schedule will remain in place until the birth dose is implemented for all newborns in 2027.
The cancellation of this study comes as a relief for advocates who have long argued against unethical research practices in Africa. Paul Offit, an infectious diseases physician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, described the development as "extremely heartening," highlighting the need to stand up against such studies and protect vulnerable populations.
Experts say that this cancellation represents a turning point for Guinea-Bissau and other countries where researchers are conducting work that critics deem unethical. Boghuma Titanji, an assistant professor of medicine at Emory University, emphasized the importance of research being conducted with ethics in mind and led by African scientists and powered by questions from Africans.
The study's design was met with skepticism due to concerns about potential nonspecific effects of adding other vaccines beyond the primary vaccine target. Researchers on the project argued that these interactions might be beneficial for overall health but lacked robust evidence to support their claims.
Notably, some Danish researchers associated with the study have been criticized for questioning the effectiveness of vaccines and not publishing results from a previous study on the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine. The cancellation has also drawn attention to potential conflicts of interest among researchers involved in the project, including ties to Trump administration health officials.
As the world continues to grapple with the complexities of vaccination research and ethics, this cancellation serves as a vital reminder of the need for rigorous oversight and accountability in scientific research, particularly when it comes to vulnerable populations.
i mean who gets to decide whether or not they should be protected from a life threatening disease? it's just crazy that someone like robert f kennedy jr could get involved and make things worse 
anyway glad the study got canceled and hopefully no harm was done but still super worrying about what other countries might go through if this kind of thing happens again 
ugh, this new study being canceled is like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders... 
it's so easy to get caught up in the hype of "science" without thinking about who's actually gonna be affected by those vaccines... 
Guinea-Bissau just dodged a bullet! 
it shows that we're finally taking steps to protect vulnerable populations from unethical research practices 
just heard about that study on hepatitis B vaccines in Guinea-Bissau being canceled due to ethical concerns! I'm like totally relieved 
that those thousands of kids won't be left unprotected 
the whole thing was so messed up, knowing that some researchers were questioning the effectiveness of vaccines and not even publishing their own results 
. I mean, what's next? Are we gonna start putting our health in danger just because someone has a "question" about it? 
gotta stand with those advocates like Paul Offit 
who are fighting for ethics in research! 
and honestly, who can blame 'em? getting that vaccine into newborns could really make a difference in the long run. maybe this whole ordeal is actually just an opportunity for them to get it right the second time around? 
but instead there's a big controversy over whether or not the vaccine will even work properly 
like, what if this research was done in some other country with different rules and regulations 
that wouldn't be fair to those people who get affected by hepatitis B 
some experts said the way this research was done was not cool 
it's all about protecting those babies' health and not putting them at risk 
. I mean, adding hepatitis B vaccines on top of everything else the new babies already get just doesn't make sense 
And now it's being led by some dubious characters, including someone who's basically a vaccine skeptic. I'm glad the CDC stepped in and put a stop to this nonsense. We can't just keep throwing money at questionable research and expect good things to come out of it. 
is just a big red flag for me 
. We need to ask more questions and hold people in positions of power accountable for their actions 
. And now that this study has been canceled, it's a huge relief for everyone who was worried about the potential harm it could've caused 
and its not even like they couldnt protect themselves with the current vaccine lol... and what kinda conflict of interest is it when u get funded by a vaccine skeptic? 
... or should I say, vaccine safety checks? This whole thing with the US-funded study in Guinea-Bissau makes me wonder if researchers are taking a page out of the "conspiracy theorist" playbook 
I'm not buying it without more info 
I'm so relieved that this study got canceled. Can't believe they even thought about withholding vaccines from kids in Guinea-Bissau