DRC receives 70,000 Ebola vaccines

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been allocated 70,000 Ervebo vaccines from the global Ebola virus disease vaccine stockpile for use in the current fast-spreading Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak, the World Health Organization said on Thursday.

The government requested a release of Ervebo vaccines last week from the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision.

In a statement, the WHO said vaccine allocation includes 20,000 doses for a Phase 3 clinical trial to better understand the impact of the vaccine on the Bundibugyo virus, while 50,000 shots will be used for frontline aworkers nd health workers, following recommendations from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization.

Ervebo vaccine is licensed and recommended for use in outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (previously called Zaire ebolavirus).

It is not known whether Ervebo may be protective against the Bundibugyo virus in humans, but the WHO said early laboratory and animal data suggest it may provide some protection.

WHO Leader Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the vaccine provision demonstrated “an important example of global solidarity in action.”

Tedros said that, together with partners and national authorities, the WHO remains committed to supporting strengthened surveillance, rapid detection, community engagement, and vaccination efforts to bring the outbreak under control.

SOURCE: AA