DR Congo rolls out Ebola vaccine for health workers as death toll rises
Health workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have begun receiving the Ervebo vaccine as part of a response to a growing Ebola outbreak. While the vaccine targets the Zaire strain, officials are monitoring its effectiveness against the current Bundibugyo strain.
Why it matters
The rollout represents a critical public health intervention in a region facing a severe and historically fast-moving viral outbreak.
50,000 frontline staff to receive a jab for a different Ebola strain, with 20,000 enrolled in a one-year clinical trial.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info A healthcare worker waits to receive the Ervebo vaccine at a treatment centre in Bunia, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on September 19, 2026 [EPA] By Al Jazeera Staff , AFP and AP Published On 20 Sep 2026 20 Sep 2026 Health workers in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have begun to receive a vaccine that many hope will provide a level of protection against the Ebola virus.
The vaccine rollout started on Saturday in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province in the northeastern DRC. Ituri is the epicentre of the fastest-growing outbreak of Ebola in history.
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