‘It’s the sovereignty of the country’: Guinea-Bissau says US vaccine study suspended

Guinea-Bissau has suspended a US-funded study on hepatitis B vaccination, citing concerns over the science being well-reviewed. The study, led by Danish researchers and funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services, was proposed for Guinea-Bissau despite major changes to the US vaccination schedule sparking questions about research ethics in other countries. Minister of Health Quinhin Nantote confirmed the trial's cancellation at a press meeting, stating it was due to concerns over the study's methodology. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has been invited to review the trial, along with officials from Denmark and the US. Guinea-Bissau's decision is being seen as a move to assert its sovereignty in conducting research on its own territory. The US Department of Health and Human Services has disputed this claim, stating the trial will proceed as planned.

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