Author: Shola Lawal
Published on: 07/02/2026 | 00:00:00
AI Summary:
Danish researchers were set to begin a controversial United States-funded vaccine trial on newborns in Guinea-Bissau last month. The scientists wanted to assess the effects of administering hepatitis B vaccines at two separate times on 14,000 babies. Half of the sample group, chosen at random, would receive the vaccine at birth – as is recommended – while the other half would get it six weeks later. Guinea-Bissau has one of the highest numbers of people infected with HBV in the world. It resulted in such widespread scrutiny that the government suspended the research on January 22 pending a review. A small ethics committee within the health ministry knew about the study, the national public health institute was not informed. Danish researchers who planned the vaccine trial argue that the study is timely, as it will take advantage of the time left before Guinea-Bissau switches to the new schedule to recruit participants. Critics like Robalo say the trial is unethical because it withholds vaccines at a critical time for the other 7,000 babies. Danish scientists have repeatedly accused Benn and Aaby of claiming without proof that vaccines containing inactivated viruses can cause adverse reactions, including death. Critics say the pair downplays important results from their own randomised controlled trials (RCTs) critics say there’s a disconnect between the researchers’ claims and findings in general. Critics point out that hepatitis B infections in newborns can manifest long after the five years the study is meant to run. Benn and Aaby have pushed back against the backlash to the Guinea-Bissau project. They blame critics for not having a “curious and humble” mindset. The pair say they are not questioning the vaccine’s effectiveness. Details earlier leaked online about the Guinea-Bissau study showed it specifically aimed to see if administering the HBV vaccine at birth could lead to skin disorders and neurodevelopmental conditions – like autism – by age five. The WHO, in December, reaffirmed there is no link between vaccines and autism. Representatives from the US health department repeatedly told reporters that the experiment would go ahead causing commotion. In 1996, Pfizer administered the experimental Trovan antibiotic drug to 200 children. At least 11 of them died, and others experienced varying injuries from paralysis to blindness. The case contributes to still-high levels of vaccine mistrust in northern Nigeria. "We are not a population to be used for anything that you cannot do in the Global North. We demand respect, despite the fact that we don’t have the capacity that we need," he says.
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