Controversial US-backed vaccine trial in African newborns halted

A woman stands in a shared room at a residential care facility for pregnant mothers in Gabu, Guinea Bissau, on 22 May 2012. Photograph: Rebecca Blackwell/AP

The US-backed hepatitis B vaccine trial in African newborns that drew global backlash was halted, the lead researcher said on Wednesday.

It was “now clear” that the study “will not move forward in Guinea-Bissau”, Frederik Schaltz-Buchholzer, a Danish researcher, wrote on LinkedIn, adding, “we were not given the necessary governmental approval.”