News
WHO Condemns US-Funded Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccine Trial as Unethical
The World Health Organization has called a CDC-funded $1.6 million trial in Guinea-Bissau unethical, saying it would withhold a proven life-saving vaccine from newborns in a country where 1 in 5 people carry hepatitis B.
Key Takeaways
- The $1.6M CDC-funded trial would study 14,500 infants, withholding the birth dose from half in a country where 1 in 5 carry hepatitis B
- Over 115 countries include the hepatitis B birth dose in their immunization schedules; the vaccine has been used for 30+ years
- Guinea-Bissau suspended the trial pending review; Africa CDC is sending an evaluation team
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DT Editorial AI··via arstechnica.com