US-funded Hepatitis B Vaccination Study in Guinea-Bissau Put on Hold Amid Controversy
A $1.6 million hepatitis B vaccine study in Guinea-Bissau, funded by Robert F Kennedy Jr, has been put on hold due to mounting criticism and concerns over the ethics of withholding vaccines proven to prevent the disease in a country with one of the highest burdens of hepatitis B.
The study, which was set to begin on January 5th, aimed to introduce the vaccine to 7,000 newborns but would have left another 7,000 children vulnerable to the virus. Critics argued that this approach would be unethical and could lead to unnecessary harm. Paul Offit, an infectious diseases physician and vaccine advocate, likened the trial to the infamous Tuskegee experiment, where African American men were deliberately withheld from treatment for syphilis.
The study's design has raised significant concerns over its potential impact on Guinea-Bissau's vaccination program. The country currently recommends the hepatitis B vaccine for all babies at six weeks of age due to access issues but plans to shift to a birth dose in 2027. Critics argue that this new approach could lead to unnecessary delays and exacerbate existing health disparities.
The African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has taken steps to address these concerns, stating that the trial would only move forward once redesigned to adhere to ethical standards. The CDC's senior official, Yap Boum, emphasized the need for evidence-based research that translates into policy but stressed the importance of upholding ethics in scientific inquiry.
Boghuma Titanji, an assistant professor of medicine and vaccine misinformation expert, welcomed the cancellation, describing it as a "win for advocacy" and "a turning point" for Guinea-Bissau and other countries where researchers have been conducting work deemed unethical. The halt in the study has also sparked a broader conversation about the ethics of vaccine research in Africa.
Meanwhile, Danish researchers behind the study have faced criticism over their design and lack of transparency. Their proposed approach to adding the hepatitis B vaccine to existing vaccines has raised questions over potential nonspecific effects and how it may interfere with these benefits. A recent preprint study by other Danish researchers found no statistically significant overall health effects from their trial, casting further doubt on the original design.
As Guinea-Bissau moves forward with its vaccination program, many are hailing this cancellation as a major victory for those advocating for ethical research practices in Africa. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for stronger regulations and oversight to prevent similar controversies in the future.
A $1.6 million hepatitis B vaccine study in Guinea-Bissau, funded by Robert F Kennedy Jr, has been put on hold due to mounting criticism and concerns over the ethics of withholding vaccines proven to prevent the disease in a country with one of the highest burdens of hepatitis B.
The study, which was set to begin on January 5th, aimed to introduce the vaccine to 7,000 newborns but would have left another 7,000 children vulnerable to the virus. Critics argued that this approach would be unethical and could lead to unnecessary harm. Paul Offit, an infectious diseases physician and vaccine advocate, likened the trial to the infamous Tuskegee experiment, where African American men were deliberately withheld from treatment for syphilis.
The study's design has raised significant concerns over its potential impact on Guinea-Bissau's vaccination program. The country currently recommends the hepatitis B vaccine for all babies at six weeks of age due to access issues but plans to shift to a birth dose in 2027. Critics argue that this new approach could lead to unnecessary delays and exacerbate existing health disparities.
The African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has taken steps to address these concerns, stating that the trial would only move forward once redesigned to adhere to ethical standards. The CDC's senior official, Yap Boum, emphasized the need for evidence-based research that translates into policy but stressed the importance of upholding ethics in scientific inquiry.
Boghuma Titanji, an assistant professor of medicine and vaccine misinformation expert, welcomed the cancellation, describing it as a "win for advocacy" and "a turning point" for Guinea-Bissau and other countries where researchers have been conducting work deemed unethical. The halt in the study has also sparked a broader conversation about the ethics of vaccine research in Africa.
Meanwhile, Danish researchers behind the study have faced criticism over their design and lack of transparency. Their proposed approach to adding the hepatitis B vaccine to existing vaccines has raised questions over potential nonspecific effects and how it may interfere with these benefits. A recent preprint study by other Danish researchers found no statistically significant overall health effects from their trial, casting further doubt on the original design.
As Guinea-Bissau moves forward with its vaccination program, many are hailing this cancellation as a major victory for those advocating for ethical research practices in Africa. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for stronger regulations and oversight to prevent similar controversies in the future.
I'm so relieved when I heard about this vaccine study being put on hold! It's crazy to think that some people would even consider withholding vaccines from newborns, especially in countries where they're already under-protected against hepatitis B 
. The Tuskegee experiment is still a painful reminder of what can happen when ethics are ignored, and it's heartbreaking to think about the potential harm these children could've faced 
. Kudos to the CDC for stepping in and ensuring that this study is redesigned with ethics in mind 
. We need more advocates like Paul Offit and Boghuma Titanji who are fighting for what's right 
. Let's keep pushing for stronger regulations and oversight so we can trust our researchers even more 
this study was just plain reckless, you're talking about vaccinating 7k babies but leaving another 7k vulnerable... what's next? 
I'm just worried that this whole thing might set back Guinea-Bissau's vaccination program even further... and yeah, Danish researchers gotta step up their transparency game... can't have research that raises more questions than answers 
** just when u think vaccines are super safe... 
7k newborns gonna miss out on life-saving protection 
7000 more kids at risk of getting sick 
stats: 
**
some people think it's okay to put thousands of kids at risk just to test out a vaccine, that's not right 
. i mean, we know vaccines are life savers, no need to mess around with that. and now that the study has been put on hold, hopefully they'll redo it in a way that prioritizes those little ones' health 
. i'm glad some folks are speakin out against this whole thing, we need more people who care about doin things right 
Definitely not a win for public health 
. More regulation needed ASAP 
. and then you got people saying this is a "win for advocacy" 
so something like this never happens again 
i cant believe they even thought this study was gonna fly, withholdin vaccines from people who are ALREADY at risk of gettin sick? what r they even thinkin?! 
. but come on, Denmark researchers behind this study were super shady from the get go 
. no transparency, who cares about adding another vaccine to existing ones? that sounds like a recipe for disaster 
. let's hope they don't let this kind of thing happen again... fingers crossed 
sounds like some crazy ethics class experiment gone wrong... 
. Need to get a grip on what's considered 'ethical' research 
. Can't have scientists playing God, like in that Tuskegee study 
. Guinea-Bissau already struggling with access issues 
, no need to add more stress 
.
. Research should serve people not just test science 
. Vaccines saved countless lives 
. Can't let them just run with whatever 'design' they come up with 
.
and prioritize people over profits 
guinea-bissau needs better than this, they're lucky it got put on hold by the cdc 
and then i saw this news about guinea bissau and hepatitis b vaccine study and it's kinda crazy that people are saying its unethical 
. Stronger regulations are needed, no doubt about it 
. This whole thing is just a big mess and I'm glad it's being addressed 
You gotta have some standards, you know?
. We can't just let anyone run wild with their experiments without making sure they're doing what's best for public health 
.
gotta make sure research prioritizes human lives over ego & profit 
gives me chills, you know? I mean, what if they really did harm those babies on purpose?! 
it's like they're trying to sweep all this under the rug and hope no one notices 
but we should notice, we should be paying attention because this is a huge deal 
. It's like, we need to make sure that any research being done is actually for the greater good and not just some company or person trying to line their pockets