Walter Kazadi Mulombo

“A study that will withhold that intervention from other newborns is unethical.”

Walter Kazadi Mulombo · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-05

Mulombo stated the WHO's main ethical concern was that the trial would withhold a proven intervention from newborns.

“The country had been expected to add it to its routine immunisation schedule in 2028, but officials are considering introducing it in the first quarter of next year,”

Walter Kazadi Mulombo · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-05

Mulombo said the WHO is working with Guinea-Bissau's government to introduce the birth-dose hepatitis B vaccine earlier than planned.

“The vaccine has been used for more than 30 years in more than 115 countries,”

Walter Kazadi Mulombo · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-05

The WHO representative explained why withholding the hepatitis B vaccine from newborns in the proposed trial was ethically unacceptable.