Controversial vaccine trial touted by RFK Jr gets go-ahead in Guinea-Bissau

The Guardian reports that a controversial research trial in Guinea-Bissau has received approval to proceed. The study, led by Danish researchers, will withhold the recommended dose of hepatitis B vaccine from thousands of African newborns. The trial is presented as a key element of the vaccine strategy advocated by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is identified in the article as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary and a long‑time opponent of vaccines. The approval has sparked debate over the ethical implications of denying newborns a standard immunisation in the name of experimental research. Critics argue the trial could expose children to preventable disease, while supporters claim it will provide data on alternative vaccination approaches.