Outrage grows over CDC's potential vaccine trial funding

Outrage has erupted among health experts over news that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is eager to fund a widely condemned vaccine trial that would expose newborns in Guinea-Bissau to hepatitis B. This disease can lead to lifelong infections, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and premature death.

The trial was suspended in January after its unethical design came to light, drawing international outcry. However, reports indicate that staff from the CDC director's office have instructed the agency's budget office to set aside $1.6 million to support the trial, further fueling public indignation.

## Why it matters The CDC's decision to allocate funds for this trial raises serious ethical concerns regarding medical research, especially when it jeopardizes the health of vulnerable populations. Moreover, the funds intended for this project could have been redirected to more urgent global health initiatives, such as combating the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

## What we know The vaccine trial has been criticized not only for targeting newborns but also for the long-term harm that hepatitis B can inflict. The international community has voiced strong opposition to such studies, deeming them unethical and hazardous.

## What remains unclear It has not yet been confirmed whether the CDC will proceed with the funding for the trial. Public reaction and pressure from the scientific community may influence the agency's final decision.