Guinea-Bissau halts US-funded birth-dose hepatitis B trial amid ethics concerns

Guinea-Bissau suspended a US-funded hepatitis B vaccine trial that would randomize about 14,000 newborns to receive a birth dose or not, pending a technical and ethical review by the national public health institute. The Bandim Health Project designed the study and it received a $1.6 million CDC grant, with the goal of evaluating broader vaccine effects ahead of the country’s planned universal birth-dose policy in 2027. While the US Health and Human Services says the trial remains on track, African scientists have questioned funding-driven dynamics and governance, arguing the design could undermine safe vaccination or reflect political pressure to limit vaccines in Africa. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over who controls clinical research in Africa and how local health priorities are weighed against external funding interests.