Guinea-Bissau Cancels Study on Vaccines for Infants Due to Ethical Concerns: 'It's the Sovereignty of the Country'
In a move that has sparked controversy, Guinea-Bissau has suspended a US-funded study on vaccines for infants due to concerns over ethics. The country has cited the need to review the research and consult with its own health officials before proceeding.
The study, led by Danish researchers, was aimed at investigating the overall health effects of giving hepatitis B vaccines alongside other shots in infancy. The proposed trial had involved withholding vaccinations from some newborns to observe their response.
Critics argue that such a design could be seen as unethical, particularly when infants are most vulnerable. "This is not acceptable," said Dr. Abdulhammad Babatunde, a global health researcher based in Nigeria. "To prevent things like the Tuskegee study and others, the control group has to get the standard of care, and the intervention group should get [potentially] better care."
Guinea-Bissau's Health Minister, Quinhin Nantote, confirmed that the trial had been suspended due to concerns over the science behind it. "It's the sovereignty of the country," he said during a press conference. "I don't know what will be this decision, but I will support the decision that the minister will make."
The move has sparked opposition from international health organizations and US officials, who have called into question the credibility of Guinea-Bissau's health authorities. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has defended its role in reviewing the study and supporting the decision to suspend it.
"This is not a public relations campaign," said Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa CDC. "It's about ensuring that research is conducted ethically in other countries."
The controversy highlights concerns over the conduct of research in low-income countries, where funding is often limited and power dynamics can be imbalanced. As Dr. Babatunde noted, "Africans want to solve Africa's problems, not satisfy the curiosity of the funders."
In a move that has sparked controversy, Guinea-Bissau has suspended a US-funded study on vaccines for infants due to concerns over ethics. The country has cited the need to review the research and consult with its own health officials before proceeding.
The study, led by Danish researchers, was aimed at investigating the overall health effects of giving hepatitis B vaccines alongside other shots in infancy. The proposed trial had involved withholding vaccinations from some newborns to observe their response.
Critics argue that such a design could be seen as unethical, particularly when infants are most vulnerable. "This is not acceptable," said Dr. Abdulhammad Babatunde, a global health researcher based in Nigeria. "To prevent things like the Tuskegee study and others, the control group has to get the standard of care, and the intervention group should get [potentially] better care."
Guinea-Bissau's Health Minister, Quinhin Nantote, confirmed that the trial had been suspended due to concerns over the science behind it. "It's the sovereignty of the country," he said during a press conference. "I don't know what will be this decision, but I will support the decision that the minister will make."
The move has sparked opposition from international health organizations and US officials, who have called into question the credibility of Guinea-Bissau's health authorities. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has defended its role in reviewing the study and supporting the decision to suspend it.
"This is not a public relations campaign," said Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa CDC. "It's about ensuring that research is conducted ethically in other countries."
The controversy highlights concerns over the conduct of research in low-income countries, where funding is often limited and power dynamics can be imbalanced. As Dr. Babatunde noted, "Africans want to solve Africa's problems, not satisfy the curiosity of the funders."
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