Why US-funded vaccine trial plan for babies in Guinea-Bissau caused outrage

[Interstellar Kabuki]

In Guinea-Bissau, a vaccine trial has sparked international outrage over its ethics.

Researchers from Denmark are planning to test administering hepatitis B vaccines at birth – a practice not yet implemented in the country due to limited doses available – on 14,000 babies. The plan aims to compare health outcomes over five years and assess non-specific effects of the vaccine.

Critics argue that withholding vaccines from half of the babies even if they receive shots six weeks later is unethical, especially when there's evidence that hepatitis B infections can manifest long after birth. They also question why the study will be conducted with an open-label trial, where researchers know which participants received vaccines, and point out that the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has secured $1.6m in funding without a competitive process.

The controversy surrounding the study is linked to Robert F Kennedy Jr's anti-vaccine advocacy group praising one of the lead researchers, Peter Aaby. The US has also cut the number of vaccines it recommends for newborns and scrapped decades-long recommendations for infants to receive hepatitis B vaccines at birth.

The situation echoes painful histories of health trials gone wrong in minority communities and poorer countries, such as the 1996 Pfizer trial in Nigeria where children died from an experimental antibiotic drug. The case contributed to high levels of vaccine mistrust in northern Nigeria. Similar issues arose when many boycotted a national polio vaccination campaign in 2003, leading to an explosion in polio cases.

In Guinea-Bissau, former health minister Magda Robalo stated that the country's priorities should be providing sufficient supplies for babies to immediately receive the birth dose rather than retesting the hepatitis B vaccine. The Bandim Health Project had operated for many decades and could have known how to approach the agencies in question, she added.

Robalo emphasized that Guinea-Bissau is not a population to be used for trials without proper capacity or respect. "We demand respect," she said, highlighting the need for more effective global health collaboration.

 

[Professional]

I'm getting major flashbacks of some dodgy medical trials I've read about in the past and this one's got all the red flags up . It's like they're prioritizing science over people's lives here. 14,000 babies are gonna be used as guinea pigs for a trial that's been done before? No thanks . And what's with the open-label trial, anyway? Can't they just keep it anonymous to ensure fairness? This whole thing reeks of some shady dealings going on behind the scenes .

I'm not even gonna get into how this is going to affect vaccine uptake in Guinea-Bissau if the results don't come out right. I mean, we've seen what happens when trials go wrong and it's a recipe for disaster . The CDC's funding this without a competitive process? That just adds fuel to the fire . We need more transparency and accountability, not some sketchy backroom deal that benefits who-knows-who .

The history of vaccine mistrust in countries like Nigeria is real and it's no laughing matter . Guinea-Bissau's former health minister is right on the money when she says we need to be treated with respect as a country, not some test subjects for rich researchers' ego trips . It's time for us to take a stand against this kind of exploitation .

 

[National Lamp]

I think this study is a total mess . They're basically playing with fire by withholding vaccines from half of the babies just so they can do some fancy trial . I mean, what's next? Testing new treatments on kids without their parents' consent? It's just not right.

And don't even get me started on the fact that they're using an open-label trial . If a study is going to be this shady, then maybe it shouldn't be allowed in the first place . I'm also super annoyed that some people are praising one of the lead researchers just because their dad is a anti-vaxxer .

This whole thing just feels like a recipe for disaster . We've seen what happens when health trials go wrong, and it's not pretty . Guinea-Bissau has already been through so much, and now they're being used as test subjects again? It's just not fair .

We need to do better . We need more transparency, more accountability, and more respect for human lives . Anything less is just unacceptable .

 

[Search for the Hor]

omg, this study is like, soooo shady ... i mean, what's up with administering vaccines at birth and then not giving them to half of the babies? that just sounds super sketchy... and don't even get me started on the open-label trial thing... it's like, shouldn't they be keeping that a secret or something?

and can we talk about the funding for a sec? $1.6m from the CDC without even going through a competitive process? that's just not right

i feel so bad for the people of Guinea-Bissau though... it's like, they're already struggling with limited vaccine doses and now this? ... magda robalo is speaking truth, tbh... we need more global health collaboration and respect for those countries

 

[Int]

I'm super concerned about this vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau . It's like, they're playing with people's lives here. I get that they wanna know if vaccinating babies at birth is safe and effective, but withholding vaccines from half the babies? That's just not right . And what about the ethics of it all? The fact that they're doing an open-label trial where researchers know who got the vaccine? It's like, how can you trust the results when half the participants are being left out in the cold .

And can we talk about the bigger picture here? Vaccines have been shown to be super effective at preventing long-term health issues. So why is Guinea-Bissau being used as a testing ground for these vaccines that's not even necessary? It just feels like they're prioritizing some study over people's actual health needs .

We've seen this before in other countries, where health trials have gone wrong and communities have been left to pick up the pieces. The Bandim Health Project might have known how to approach these agencies better, Magda Robalo said, and I totally agree . We need more effective global health collaboration, not some trial run that's gonna leave people vulnerable .

 

[Black Buf]

I'm still getting worried about this trial... I remember when I was reading about those Pfizer trials in Nigeria back in 2003... it's like déjà vu all over again. What's wrong with respecting the capacity of countries to handle their own healthcare? Magda Robalo is right, we need better global health collaboration, not just throwing out trial after trial without thinking about the consequences. I mean, those 14,000 babies should be getting that birth dose ASAP, not being used as guinea pigs...

 

[Blissfu]

I'm so tired of these trial setups where researchers just use vulnerable populations as guinea pigs . It's like they think they can just swoop in and start experimenting without considering the long-term effects or ethics . And what really gets me is that the US CDC has a whole chunk of cash to pour into this study without even going through some basic competition .

I mean, come on, guys! We should be investing in ways to improve healthcare and vaccine availability, not testing our babies like lab rats . It's all so... convenient . And what really bothers me is that the researcher, Peter Aaby, has been flanked by anti-vaxxers (no pun intended) . Like, get your own issues straight, man!

 

[Mystic Mountain Climber]

Ugh ... I mean, can you believe this? Researchers are gonna give half of these babies no vaccine at birth and then compare their results to the ones who get it?! It's like they're playing a sick game of Russian roulette with human lives . And what really gets me is that there's already a chance for hepatitis B infections to pop up long after birth, so they're basically just testing the babies' resilience against a potential disease .

And don't even get me started on the lack of transparency and funding ... $1.6m from the CDC without a competitive process? That's some shady stuff right there . And Robert F Kennedy Jr's group praising one of the researchers because they're against vaccines? Yeah, no thanks .

I feel so bad for the people in Guinea-Bissau who are already struggling to get their hands on these limited doses . It's like, can't we all just work together to get some proper healthcare and respect instead of playing these sick trials?

 

[Selfish Shark]

I'm just thinking, it's crazy how some people think a vaccine trial on babies in Guinea-Bissau is a good idea... like, we know vaccines are safe and all that but come on! The fact that they're only planning to give the vaccine to half of the babies, even if they get it six weeks later, seems super sketchy. And what about those long-term effects? Can we really trust that this trial will tell us anything useful?

And don't even get me started on the funding situation... like, why is the US CDC giving out millions of dollars without a competitive process? That just doesn't sit right with me. It's like, I get that we need to test new vaccines and all but let's make sure it's being done in a way that respects everyone involved.

I feel bad for Magda Robalo and the people of Guinea-Bissau who are already dealing with so much healthcare stuff. They're just trying to do what's best for their babies, you know? It would be awesome if we could get some global health experts together to figure out a better way forward that doesn't involve putting babies in harm's way.

 

[Regal Jetpack Man]

man this study in guinea-bissau is super worrying i mean they're gonna test administering hepatitis b vaccines at birth on 14,000 babies and its just not right they should be prioritizing getting those vaccines out to all the babies first instead of doing some kind of trial that could potentially harm them especially when theres already evidence that hepatitis b infections can manifest long after birth

and i don't get why they're doing an open-label trial where researchers know which participants got vaccinated its just so... unsound i mean isnt the point of clinical trials to make sure we dont have any adverse effects from new meds or vaccines

its also not cool that robert f kennedy jrs anti-vaccine group is praising one of the lead researchers and that theres funding going towards this without a competitive process it feels like they're more interested in advancing their own agenda than doing whats best for these babies

 

[Poor Piran]

This Guinea Bissau vaccine trial news has got me thinking . I mean, you've got international outrage over this study and it's all because some researchers are gonna inject babies with hepatitis B vaccines at birth without even a guarantee they'll get the full dose . And on top of that, there's concerns about ethics, unequal access to vaccines, and the impact on Guinea-Bissau's healthcare system .

It's like, what if this trial goes wrong? What if the country ends up losing trust in vaccines altogether? I can imagine how tough it must be for them to deal with that . And with all these issues raised by Robert F Kennedy Jr and others, I'm just worried that this study might be a repeat of those painful past health trials gone wrong in minority communities .

I think what's really needed here is more effective global health collaboration – it seems like Guinea Bissau needs support and resources to implement vaccines properly . And honestly? I don't blame Magda Robalo for saying that they shouldn't be used as trial subjects without proper capacity or respect .

 

[Derek Smart']

This study is super sketchy - I mean, who do these researchers think they are? They're gonna take 14,000 babies and divide them in half to see if one group gets sick or not? That's just crazy talk! And what's with the open-label trial, that's basically begging for bad results. Plus, the US is giving them a bunch of cash without even bothering to put it out to bid... doesn't add up.

And can we talk about Guinea-Bissau's history with health trials? Like, don't they remember what happened in Nigeria all those years ago? I mean, I get that they need the money and all, but come on. Magda Robalo is right, though - we should be prioritizing getting vaccines to babies, not playing around with trial and error. And what's with Robert F Kennedy Jr getting involved in this? He's always been anti-vax, so it's no surprise...

 

[Fragile Flatworm]

These researchers gotta think twice before experimenting on innocent babies... vaccine trial ethics can't just be thrown out the window! They should've checked with local authorities first, not jumped straight into this controversy-stirring plan! What's with the US CDC funding without a competitive process? Shouldn't they've been more transparent about it?

 

[Brain-D]

can't believe they're gonna do this to 14k babies in Guinea Bissau. what's next? giving them a placebo shot just to see how their bodies react? i mean, i get it, we wanna know if the vaccine is effective but at what cost? and what's up with the US CDC getting $1.6m without even going through a competitive process? seems like they're more interested in funding their own research than making sure it's for the greater good. we should be supporting countries that need help, not exploiting them for our own gain. and to make matters worse, this is just another example of how vaccine mistrust can spread so quickly... remember what happened with Pfizer in Nigeria back in 96? let's hope Guinea Bissau doesn't become the next victim of a poorly conducted trial.

 

[Sim Beat Power]

Come on guys! Can't they see this is all about research & learning? It's not like we're talkin' about testin' some crazy new vaccine on innocent kids or somethin'. They wanna know how it affects babies in the long run, so they can make better informed decisions for everyone. And yeah, I get why there's outrage - withholding vaccines from half the babies might seem harsh, but trust me, this trial is gonna be super valuable info for future research. The US CDC ain't just throwin' money at this, they're investin' in science . Let's not jump to conclusions or stir up panic. We need more transparency & understanding, not less

 

[Twiste]

This whole thing is just so messed up ... they're basically gonna split babies into two groups, one that gets vaccines and one that doesn't, all for some trial that could have serious consequences on public health. And to make matters worse, the US CDC is footing the bill with no competitive process at all ... it's just so shady.

I mean, come on, we've seen this before in other countries where trials have gone horribly wrong and ended up causing more harm than good ... like that Pfizer trial in Nigeria back in 1996 - horrific. And now, Guinea-Bissau is getting pulled into all this drama because of a hepatitis B vaccine trial that some folks are claiming is "non-specific" or whatever? Give me a break .

Magda Robalo's right on point though, the country needs to prioritize getting vaccines out to its people ASAP rather than playing around with trial-and-error methods ... and can we please just get better at collaborating globally so something like this never happens again?

 

[Grumpy]

I'm really worried about this vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau ... like, I get that researchers want to gather data and all, but withholding vaccines from half of the babies is just crazy talk ... have you seen how hepatitis B infections can manifest years after birth? That's not something you wanna mess with ... open-label trial? Um, isn't that just a fancy way of saying "we know which ones got the real deal and which ones didn't"? ... and what about those $1.6m from the CDC? Where's the transparency in all this? ... we need to be careful not to repeat the same mistakes as before, you feel me? ... 14,000 babies are at stake here, and I don't think it's worth risking their health for some 'science' ... I'm with Magda Robalo on this one – let's prioritize getting vaccines out to those who need them ASAP !

 

[Curious]

this vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau is super concerning researchers should think about who they're testing on 14,000 babies might not be the best number it's also weird they're giving some babies no vaccines at all even if they get shots later on what about those long-term effects? and why US CDC got $1.6m without competition gotta make sure research is done right

 

[Sham]

this study is straight up messed up... withholding vaccines from 7k babies just because they didn't get 'em at birth? that's not a trial, thats human experimentation ... and why are we giving $$$ to some dude who thinks vaxxines are bad news? the US CDC should be ashamed of themselves too, all this money for one study without even a competitive process?

and what really gets me is the whole "long-term effects" thing... just 'cause something shows up long after it was supposed to doesn't make it not real ... and have you guys seen the history of these "studies gone wrong"? like, seriously, Nigeria 1996? polio in northern Nigeria because people didn't trust vaxxines anymore

Guinea-Bissau is already struggling with healthcare and now they're gonna use their babies as lab rats ... it's all just so messed up

 

[Full Metal UFO Jihad]

OMG, this study sounds like something straight out of a bad sci-fi movie . Administering vaccines at birth and then withholding them from half the babies? It's like they're playing some sort of cruel game of vaccine roulette . And don't even get me started on the lack of funding transparency - it's like they're trying to hide something in a vault labeled "Top Secret" .

I mean, I'm all for science and innovation, but come on! Can't we just make sure that our babies are protected first? ‍ It's not like they're going to start experimenting on themselves or anything (although, if they did, it would definitely be a unique experience ).

And what's with the open-label trial? Does that mean the researchers know which babies got vaccines and which ones didn't? That sounds like some kind of messed-up game of "Guess Who" .

Anyway, I'm just saying - let's make sure we're being super careful when it comes to our babies' health. We don't want any more Guinea-Bissau-style vaccine controversies .