In this May 23, 2012 file photo, chief midwife Maria Antoneta Cabral Barbosa holds a newborn baby boy at the regional hospital in Gabu, Guinea-Bissau -

By AFP

Last updated: 3 hours ago

vaccine hesitancy

After weeks of back-and-forth, Guinea-Bissau has cancelled a proposed hepatitis B vaccine trial on newborn babies following international criticism that it was unethical and potentially exploitative.

The trial was funded by the US, under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has a long record of expressing scepticism about vaccines.

The study planned to involve 14,000 newborns, with half receiving the vaccine and the other half being denied the shot, despite WHO recommendations. Infants are at the greatest risk of being chronically infected with hepatitis B (HBV); the infection is typically passed on from mother to baby.

There is no cure for the disease and it can go on to cause long-term liver damage and liver cancer. The WHO recommends that all babies receive the HBV vaccine at birth and also a booster dose, which is known to provide years of protection.

Health experts warned that withholding the vaccine could expose babies to infection in a country where nearly one in five people has hepatitis B.

The government had previously prohibited vaccine trials involving children, while police have seized a batch of vaccines from the research centre at the centre of the controversy.

Guinea-Bissau cancels controversial US-Funded hepatitis B vaccine trial

Suggested for you

More Stories

Pope says in &#8216;fairly good shape&#8217; after lung cancer surgery

Nigeria, eight other African countries record 67 yellow fever cases, 18 deaths — WHO

‘I don’t fight for supremacy, but historically, I’m number one’ — Alaafin

District Health Information Management System fully restored &#8211; Health Ministry

Sheikh Umar Ibrahim Imam removed as National Imam of ASWAJ

Major (Rtd.) Jonas Twum Ampofo

Discussion

Pope says in ‘fairly good shape’ after lung cancer surgery

District Health Information Management System fully restored – Health Ministry