Guinea-Bissau Denies Approving Controversial Newborn Vaccine Trial

Guinea-Bissau’s health minister says the government has not authorised a controversial US-funded hepatitis B vaccine trial involving newborns, rejecting reports that the study had received approval. The Bandim Health Project, which is conducting the research, says it has ethical approval for a revised protocol but still needs government authorisation before recruiting participants. The original proposal planned to involve about 14,000 babies, with some receiving the vaccine at birth and others at six weeks. Authorities have suspended the project pending review