CDC Reportedly Plans to Fund Suspended, "Unethical" Newborn Vaccine Trial in Guinea-Bissau

CDC Moves to Fund Controversial Trial

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reportedly moving to fund a hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau that was previously suspended due to ethical concerns. According to a report by Rolling Stone, staff from the CDC director’s office instructed the agency’s budget office in late September to allocate $1.6 million for the trial. This decision has sparked renewed outrage among health experts.

Ethical Concerns and Suspension

The trial, designed to expose newborns in Guinea-Bissau to hepatitis B, was suspended in January following international outcry over its unethical design. Critics argue that exposing infants to the virus puts them at high risk of lifelong infection, which can lead to severe health issues like liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and premature death. Officials in Guinea-Bissau had stated that ethical and technical reviews were ongoing and that coordination was insufficient to proceed.

Researchers Under Investigation

The proposed trial would be run by Danish researchers Christine Stabell Benn and Peter Aaby from the University of Southern Denmark. This couple has previously produced studies promoted by anti-vaccine advocates and is currently under investigation by Danish authorities for allegations of “falsification” and “scientific misconduct” related to prior vaccine research. The CDC had awarded an unsolicited grant of $1.6 million to their research group in December.

Impact on Global Health Funding

The $1.6 million designated for this trial would be drawn from the CDC’s global health security programs. These funds might otherwise be used for critical efforts, such as combating ongoing outbreaks like the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, has not commented on the matter.