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WHO Slams U.S.-Funded Guinea-Bissau Vaccine Study as Unethical

2/13/2026

24 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The World Health Organization criticized a U.S.-funded study in Guinea-Bissau as unethical.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said denying half the children a proven vaccine is unethical.
The study aims to assess broader health effects of introducing the hepatitis B birth dose.
Critics question its relevance to the U.S. context, and its status is uncertain due to objections in Guinea-Bissau, with no clinicaltrials.gov registration.

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Story summary

The World Health Organization criticized a U.S.-funded study in Guinea-Bissau as unethical.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said denying half the children a proven vaccine is unethical.
The study aims to assess broader health effects of introducing the hepatitis B birth dose.
Critics question its relevance to the U.S. context, and its status is uncertain due to objections in Guinea-Bissau, with no clinicaltrials.gov registration.