Congo-Kinshasa: WHO and Africa CDC Welcome the Allocation of Ebola Vaccines to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The WHO and Africa CDC have approved the allocation of 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine to the DRC to combat a Bundibugyo virus outbreak. A portion of these doses will be used in a clinical trial to assess the vaccine's efficacy against this specific virus strain.
Why it matters
This initiative is a vital public health response to contain a potentially deadly viral outbreak in the DRC.
Last week, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) requested a release of Ervebo vaccines from the global Ebola virus disease vaccine stockpile, managed by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG). The request was for use of the vaccine in the current Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak. Ervebo vaccine is licensed and recommended for use in outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (previously called Zaire ebolavirus). On Monday, the ICG informed the DRC government of an immediate initial release of 70 000 doses.
The allocation includes 20 000 doses for a Phase 3 clinical trial to understand the impact of the vaccine on the Bundibugyo virus, and 50 000 doses for frontline and health workers in line with the current recommendations of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE).
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