US awards no-bid contract to Denmark scientists studying hepatitis B vaccine in African babies
A controversial $1.6 million study on hepatitis B vaccinations in African newborns has drawn sharp criticism. The US government awarded the no-bid contract to the University of Southern Denmark, bypassing standard funding procedures. Ethical concerns have surfaced over the decision to withhold vaccines from at-risk infants in Guinea-Bissau.
The Trump administration approved the contract without opening it to competitive bids. Normally, the CDC announces funding opportunities and reviews proposals before awarding grants. This time, the process was skipped entirely.
The study will track 14,000 newborns in Guinea-Bissau, a country where hepatitis B is widespread. Researchers will monitor death rates, illnesses, and long-term development—but some infants will not receive the vaccine. Hepatitis B protection is critical for newborns, as the virus can cause liver disease and early death.
Leading the project is Henrik Ditzel, head of the university’s Department of Cancer and Inflammation. His team includes Christine Stabell Benn, a consultant on a US committee that recently voted against universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns. Critics argue this creates a conflict of interest.
The study gained approval from Guinea-Bissau’s national ethics committee. However, the CDC did not conduct its usual internal ethics review. Several researchers have compared the trial to the unethical Tuskegee Study, where Black men were left untreated for syphilis without informed consent.
The study is set to begin soon, despite ongoing ethical debates. Some infants will go without a proven vaccine in a region where hepatitis B poses a serious threat. The CDC’s unusual funding process and lack of internal review have added to concerns about the project’s oversight.
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