Key Highlights
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is funding a controversial study in Guinea-Bissau on the effects of the hepatitis B vaccine in infants.
- A Danish research group with ties to the U.S. anti-vaccine movement will conduct the five-year, randomized controlled trial.
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reshaped the CDC’s Advisory Council on Immunization Practices to include vaccine skeptics.
- The study is seen as unethical by many scientists due to its design and withholding of a proven life-saving vaccine from newborns.
CDC Funds Controversial Hepatitis B Vaccine Study in Guinea-Bissau
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded $1.6 million to a Danish research group to study the effects of the hepatitis B vaccine on infants in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. This funding comes amid ongoing ethical concerns from scientists who argue that withholding a life-saving vaccine from newborns is unethical.
Research Group and Funding Details
The University of Southern Denmark’s Bandim Health Project will carry out a five-year randomized controlled trial in Guinea-Bissau, comparing infants receiving the hepatitis B vaccine at birth to those who receive it according to the standard care schedule. The Guinean government plans to provide the hepatitis B vaccine at birth starting in 2027, creating this “unique window of opportunity” for the study.
Background and Context
The decision to fund this research is particularly noteworthy given that it comes on the heels of the CDC Advisory Council on Immunization Practices eliminating long-standing recommendations for hepatitis B vaccines in newborns. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has previously aligned with anti-vaccine movements, reshaped the committee earlier this year to include more vaccine skeptics.
Scientific and Ethical Concerns
The study has prompted swift outcry among scientists, who argue that it is unethical to withhold a proven life-saving vaccine from newborns. Gavin Yamey, a professor of global health at Duke University, stated on BlueSky, “It is unethical to do a randomized controlled trial in which you withhold a proven, life-saving vaccine from newborn babies.” Similarly, Jake Scott, a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, questioned the choice to conduct this study in Guinea-Bissau, emphasizing that “the birth dose matters most” in high-endemic settings like the country.
Guinea-Bissau faces significant health challenges related to hepatitis B. A 2022 survey found that 12% of the population carries the disease. The Bandim Health Project claims their research is crucial for understanding the broader health effects of administering the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, which could help inform global hepatitis B vaccination policies.
Research Team and Background
The research team includes Christine Stabell Benn, who has served as an external subject matter expert to the CDC’s vaccine advisory council and is known for her anti-vaccine stance. Her research has focused on the broader health impacts of vaccines, including claims that vaccines can cause unintended side effects.
Despite these concerns, a CDC spokesperson defended the decision, stating that “the award supports an independent study designed to answer important questions about the broader health effects of the hepatitis B birth dose.” The spokesperson added that they will ensure “the highest scientific and ethical standards are met.”
The funding for this controversial study highlights the ongoing debates within public health regarding vaccine safety and efficacy, particularly in low-resource settings. While proponents argue it could lead to important breakthroughs, critics remain deeply concerned about the potential risks of withholding a proven life-saving intervention from newborns.