A controversial US-funded study in Guinea-Bissau regarding hepatitis B vaccines for newborns has been cancelled, according to a senior official at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Yap Boum, speaking at a press conference Thursday morning, confirmed the halt to the $1.6 million project.

The study, funded under the purview of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), sparked significant ethical concerns. Critics argued that the study involved withholding proven hepatitis B vaccines in a nation grappling with a high prevalence of the disease. Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that globally, hundreds of millions are living with chronic hepatitis B infection, facing a significantly increased risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. Vaccination is a cornerstone of prevention, particularly for newborns.

"It's of importance for Africa CDC to have evidence that can be translated in policy, but this has to be done within the norm," Boum stated, emphasizing the importance of ethical research practices.

The core of the controversy revolved around the ethics of withholding a readily available and effective vaccine in a population where it is critically needed. Standard medical practice and WHO guidelines advocate for universal hepatitis B vaccination of newborns to prevent chronic infection and its long-term complications. The ethical debate centered on whether the potential benefits of the study outweighed the risk of leaving newborns unvaccinated against a potentially life-threatening disease.

The cancellation of the study raises questions about the oversight and ethical review processes for international research projects, particularly those funded by external entities. It also highlights the importance of community engagement and transparency in research, ensuring that studies align with local health priorities and ethical standards. The Africa CDC's intervention underscores its commitment to ensuring that research conducted on the continent adheres to the highest ethical principles and contributes to improving public health outcomes. Further details regarding the specific reasons for the cancellation and the future of hepatitis B prevention efforts in Guinea-Bissau were not immediately available.