Health
US-backed hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau halted after police seizure
October 21, 2026 at 06:31 PM
Coverage
2 reports · 1 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 5 hours
A US-funded hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau has been halted after police seized vaccine doses and the government denied approval.
- Lead researcher Frederik Schaltz-Buchholzer has announced the study will not move forward in Guinea-Bissau, citing a lack of governmental approval.
- Judicial police raided the Bandim Health Project offices and seized hepatitis B vaccine doses during an investigation into the vaccine batch.
- Health Minister Quinhin Nantote denied the study would proceed in Guinea-Bissau.
- WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević said WHO recommends all infants receive a first hepatitis B vaccine dose within 24 hours of birth.