Guinea-Bissau Halts US-Funded Hepatitis B Vaccine Study Amid Autism Link Controversy
The West African nation has terminated a Trump administration-backed research project examining alleged connections between the hepatitis B vaccine and autism, a hypothesis repeatedly debunked by major health organizations.
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Guinea-Bissau has suspended a vaccine study funded by the Trump administration that sought to investigate purported links between the hepatitis B vaccine and autism, according to the country's foreign minister. The decision marks a significant intervention in a research project that has drawn concern from public health experts who warn it could undermine confidence in life-saving immunization programs across West Africa.
The study aimed to evaluate side effects of the hepatitis B vaccine, including examining connections to autism spectrum disorders. According to Guinea-Bissau's foreign ministry, the government moved to halt the research following consultations with health authorities. The hepatitis B vaccine has been administered to millions of children globally as part of routine immunization schedules recommended by the World Health Organization since 1992.
Scientific Consensus Contradicts Study Premise
The research project's underlying hypothesis contradicts decades of epidemiological evidence. Multiple large-scale studies involving millions of children have found no causal relationship between the hepatitis B vaccine and autism. The WHO, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Pediatrics have all affirmed the vaccine's safety profile based on extensive post-licensure surveillance data.
Hepatitis B causes an estimated 820,000 deaths annually worldwide, primarily from cirrhosis and liver cancer, according to WHO data. In sub-Saharan Africa, where Guinea-Bissau is located, the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection ranges from 5-10% in some populations. Birth-dose vaccination, when administered within 24 hours of delivery, reduces mother-to-child transmission by approximately 90%.
The decision by Guinea-Bissau authorities to terminate the study reflects concerns about potential damage to public health infrastructure. Vaccine hesitancy has contributed to resurgent outbreaks of measles, diphtheria, and other preventable diseases across multiple African countries in recent years. Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Madagascar have all experienced major measles outbreaks linked partly to suboptimal immunization coverage.
Regional Immunization Implications
Guinea-Bissau's hepatitis B vaccine coverage reached 81% for the third dose in 2023, according to WHO-UNICEF estimates, below the 90% target for routine immunization programs. The country faces significant health system challenges, including limited cold chain capacity, health worker shortages, and competing disease priorities including malaria and tuberculosis.
Public health researchers have expressed concern that studies investigating discredited vaccine-autism links could divert resources from genuine safety monitoring systems. The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, which provides independent scientific advice to WHO, conducts regular reviews of vaccine adverse events based on pharmacovigilance data from national regulatory authorities.
The Trump administration's funding of this particular research marks a departure from traditional US support for immunization programs in Africa. Through agencies including USAID and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the United States has historically been the largest bilateral donor supporting vaccine delivery, cold chain infrastructure, and health worker training across the continent.
Broader Vaccine Confidence Context
The suspension comes as African countries work to rebuild routine immunization rates that declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, reported that 13.9 million children across Africa missed routine vaccines in 2021, though recovery efforts have since improved coverage levels. The African Union's Africa CDC has prioritized strengthening vaccine manufacturing capacity on the continent, with six countries selected to host mRNA vaccine production facilities.
Guinea-Bissau's decision may influence other West African nations approached for similar research collaborations. The Economic Community of West African States has coordinated regional responses to disease outbreaks including yellow fever and meningitis, with standardized protocols for vaccine introduction and safety monitoring.
Health authorities in Guinea-Bissau have not announced whether alternative research partnerships focused on genuine vaccine safety questions will proceed. Legitimate pharmacovigilance studies examining rare adverse events, optimal dosing schedules, and immunogenicity in specific populations continue across multiple African research sites under WHO and national regulatory oversight.