Guinea-Bissau Police Raid Halts CDC-Funded Controversial Vaccine Trial
Police raided Danish researchers' offices in Guinea-Bissau, halting a CDC-funded hepatitis B trial.
Why it matters: This incident spotlights urgent questions about ethical oversight in government-funded medical research, especially involving vulnerable populations like newborns in developing countries. Legal and public health professionals must watch evolving standards for trial approval and compliance.
- Police raided Bandim Health Project offices in Bissau on October 19, 2026, seizing hepatitis B vaccine doses.
- The CDC awarded $1.6 million to Danish researchers for a trial enrolling about 14,000 newborns to test vaccine timing.
- Guinea-Bissau's Council of Ministers formally rejected the trial on October 16, 2026, citing lack of government authorization.
- WHO warned delaying hepatitis B vaccine in newborns risks serious harm, recommending vaccination within 24 hours of birth.
On October 19, 2026, Guinea-Bissau's judicial police raided the Bandim Health Project's offices, seizing doses of hepatitis B vaccine destined for a planned clinical trial. The Bandim Project, led by Danish researchers Peter Aaby and Christine Stabell Benn, has operated in Guinea-Bissau since 1978. The trial aimed to enroll approximately 14,000 newborns, with half receiving the hepatitis B vaccine at birth and the other half receiving it later, a design that drew significant ethical scrutiny.
This trial was funded by a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlighting government involvement in controversial medical research abroad. However, Guinea-Bissau's Council of Ministers formally rejected the clinical trial on October 16, 2026, stating the trial had not been authorized by the government.
Guinea-Bissau's Health Minister Quinhin Nantote emphasized compliance with national laws and international ethical principles: "Any scientific research initiative involving human beings, particularly children, must strictly comply with applicable national legislation, international ethical principles, competent evaluation and approval mechanisms." Meanwhile, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević expressed concern that delaying the hepatitis B vaccine could expose newborns to serious and potentially irreversible harm, affirming that WHO recommends administering the vaccine within 24 hours after birth.
Lead researcher Christine Stabell Benn acknowledged the situation, stating, "The study had not begun, and none of the vaccines had been administered. We cooperated with the authorities." This dispute underscores the growing vigilance regarding ethical oversight of vaccine trials, especially those involving vulnerable populations in developing countries.
By the numbers:
- 14,000 newborns planned for enrollment — scope of proposed clinical trial
- $1.6 million — CDC grant funding Danish researchers
- October 16, 2026 — Guinea-Bissau government rejected the trial
- October 19, 2026 — Police raided offices and seized vaccine doses
Yes, but: Although the CDC funded the trial, no vaccines were administered before Guinea-Bissau’s government rejected the study, and authorities cooperated fully during the investigation.
What's next: The incident may prompt renewed scrutiny of international approvals and ethical reviews for government-funded research in developing countries, possibly affecting future CDC funding protocols.