"A controversial hepatitis B vaccine safety trial will go on as planned in Africa, amid concerns over its ethics and design from medical experts. That's despite news reports of its cancellation, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In December 2025 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the award of a $1.6-million grant to conduct the five-year HBV0-NSE trial to test the health effects of the long-used, effective hepatitis B vaccine on 14,000 newborns in Guinea-Bissau."
"Awarded without competition to controversial Danish researchers championed by antivaccine activists and HHS chief Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the announcement attracted criticism over the study's design. Hepatitis B is widespread in Guinea-Bissau, with prevalance of about 18.7 percent, and shortens livesit's linked to long-term liver cancer and cirrhosis. The trial would randomize half of the newborns to either receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth or get no vaccine in a bid to look at its short-term health effects."
A five-year HBV0-NSE trial funded by a $1.6-million CDC grant will enroll 14,000 newborns in Guinea-Bissau to test health effects of hepatitis B vaccine. The study randomly assigns half of participants to receive the vaccine at birth and half to receive no vaccine, aiming to assess short-term outcomes. Hepatitis B prevalence in Guinea-Bissau is about 18.7 percent and causes long-term liver cancer and cirrhosis. The grant was awarded without competition to Danish researchers linked to antivaccine advocates and has drawn criticism over study design and ethics. Africa CDC reportedly cited ethical concerns, while HHS stated the trial will proceed.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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