Judicial Police investigators searched the Bandim Health Project in Bissau and seized a batch of hepatitis B vaccines intended for children's immunization.
The Guinean Judicial Police (PJ) on Monday afternoon, October 19, 2026, conducted a search at the Bandim Health Project in Bissau, resulting in the seizure of a quantity of hepatitis B vaccines designated for child immunization. The operation aimed to clarify circumstances surrounding the vaccine batch, amid ongoing discussions about an alleged clinical trial involving the vaccine's administration to newborns in Guinea-Bissau.
This action follows reports from October 11, stating Guinean authorities approved a U.S.-funded clinical trial for administering the hepatitis B vaccine to newborns, a study previously deemed unethical by the World Health Organization. The Ministry of Public Health, however, rejected these reports on October 13, denying any authorization for such trials funded by the United States and conducted at the Bandim Health Project.
During the search, PJ investigators identified and seized the vaccine batch, which will undergo legal procedures to determine facts and potential responsibilities. The PJ acknowledged the sensitive nature of products for child immunization and stressed the importance of conducting investigations with rigor to safeguard public interest and children's health. No officials from the Bandim Health Project were detained, but investigations are ongoing.
Why it mattersThe seizure of hepatitis B vaccines affects children's immunization programs and raises concerns about public health initiatives.
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