Guinea-Bissau’s health minister has denied government approval for a planned hepatitis B study in newborns, contradicting claims by a U.S. official. The trial, backed by the U.S. government and private partners, would not test vaccine safety or efficacy but instead monitor general health markers like mortality and neurodevelopment. The study has drawn controversy due to its association with a prominent anti-vaccine advocate. Critics question its scientific purpose amid ongoing debates over vaccine research ethics.
Health minister says government ‘did not authorize’ Danish-led hepatitis B trial in babies backed by RFK JrGuinea-Bissau has not approved the controversial hepatitis B study in newborns that would be funded by the US government and private partners, the African country’s minister of health said on Tuesday.The study, which would not investigate the safety or effectiveness of vaccines but would instead track “nonspecific” health outcomes like overall mortality or neurodevelopmental conditions, has been championed by Robert F Kennedy Jr, secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and a longtime anti-vaccine activist. Continue reading...
