Peter Aaby
Peter Aaby | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 November 1944 Lund, Sweden |
| Citizenship | Danish |
| Scientific career | |
| Alma mater | University of Copenhagen |
| Known for | Non-specific effects of vaccines |
| Awards | Novo Nordisk Prize (2000) |
| Fields | Health, epidemiology |
| Institutions | Bandim Health Project |
Peter Aaby (born 6 November, 1944 in Lund, Sweden) is a Danish anthropologist but also holds a doctoral degree in medicine.[1] In 1978, Peter Aaby established the Bandim Health Project, a Health and Demographic Surveillance System site in Guinea-Bissau in West Africa, which he has run ever since.[2] In 2000, Peter Aaby was awarded the Novo Nordisk Prize, the most important Danish award within health research.
Aaby is credited for the discovery of non-specific effects of vaccines – i.e. effects of vaccines, which go beyond the specific protective effects against the targeted diseases.[3] The theory of non-specific effects of vaccines was established in 1991 and later documented in several trials on measles vaccine, BCG, oral polio vaccine, DTP vaccine and smallpox vaccine.[4] As a consequence of Aaby's work on non-specific effects of vaccines one author recommended in 2013 the WHO vaccination program in low income countries should be changed.[5] In 2008, WHO reviewed the evidence for non-specific effects of BCG vaccine, measles vaccine and DTP vaccine, and concluded that it would "keep a watch on the evidence of nonspecific effects of vaccination".[6] Since 2023, his work on non-specific effects has been heavily criticized for biased reporting and cherry picking of data with evidence that he and his team had also stopped the reporting of data contradicting their hypothesis.[7][8] In 2025, he and his team were selected by RFK Jr. to receive funding to conduct a study in Guinea-Bissau which the scientific community deemed unethical.[9] In January 2026, the following the scientific controversy on the study design, the funding was cancelled.[10]
In 2020, he was elected a member of the Academia Europaea.[11]
See also
References
- ^ Winkel, Klaus (2011). Danskere i tropisk Afrika : fra slavehandler til bistandsarbejder (1. udgave. ed.). Århus: Klim. ISBN 978-8779559271.
- ^ "Background". Bandim Health Project. SSI. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ Prentice, AM; Savy, M; Darboe, MK; Moore, SE (April 2009). "Commentary: Challenging public health orthodoxies--prophesy or heresy?". International Journal of Epidemiology. 38 (2): 591–3. doi:10.1093/ije/dyn363. PMC 2663722. PMID 19174540.
- ^ Benn, CS; Netea, MG; Selin, LK; Aaby, P (September 2013). "A small jab - a big effect: nonspecific immunomodulation by vaccines". Trends in Immunology. 34 (9): 431–9. doi:10.1016/j.it.2013.04.004. PMID 23680130.
- ^ Shann, F (February 2013). "Nonspecific effects of vaccines and the reduction of mortality in children". Clinical Therapeutics. 35 (2): 109–14. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2013.01.007. PMID 23375475.
- ^ "Meeting of Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, 18-19 June 2008". Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 83 (32): 287–92. Aug 2008. PMID 18689006.
- ^ "Quand des méthodes de recherche controversées alimentent la désinformation sur les vaccins". Le Point. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "Randomized trials show no evidence of non-specific vaccine effects". Health, Aarhus University. Aarhus University. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "RFK-linked hepatitis B vaccine study in Guinea-Bissau draws ethical concerns". The Guardian. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "Controversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled". The Guardian. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "Peter Aaby". Member. Academia Europaea. Retrieved 2024-11-10.