Health workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have begun receiving the Ervebo Ebola vaccine as authorities intensify efforts to contain the country’s fastest-growing Ebola outbreak.
The vaccination campaign started on Saturday in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, the epicentre of the outbreak. It is being supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
Authorities plan to vaccinate about 50,000 healthcare and other frontline workers, particularly in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, where Ebola cases are increasing.
The Ervebo vaccine was originally developed to protect against the Zaire strain of Ebola, while the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain. As a result, researchers will monitor around 20,000 vaccinated workers for up to one year to determine how much protection the vaccine provides against the current strain.
Congolese health official Steve Ahuka said it remains unclear how effective the vaccine will be against the Bundibugyo virus.
The outbreak has killed at least 3,639 people and infected 7,541 others since May, while about 1,823 people have recovered, according to local health authorities.
The WHO said in August that 70,000 doses of Ervebo had been approved for use in the DRC. The vaccine is being administered under a compassionate-use programme because it has not been specifically licensed for the Bundibugyo strain.
Although WHO officials have reported encouraging signs that transmission could be slowing, MSF has warned that there is still no clear evidence that the outbreak is under control.
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