Guinea‑Bissau has withdrawn a planned hepatitis B vaccine trial for newborns after mounting criticism that the study was unethical and exploitative.
The US‑funded trial, which would have involved infants in the West African nation, was the subject of weeks of debate and public scrutiny. Critics argued that the research design failed to meet international ethical standards and that it could take advantage of the country’s limited healthcare resources.
Following the backlash, Guinea‑Bissau’s authorities announced the cancellation of the study, citing concerns over the welfare of the participating children and the need to protect the country’s vulnerable populations from potential exploitation.
While the decision was welcomed by human‑rights groups, it also highlights the challenges that low‑income countries face when engaging in clinical research funded by foreign governments.
<small>Source: Africanews — read the original story there.</small>
