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DRC gets 70,000 Ebola vaccine doses as trial targets Bundibugyo virus
DRC gets 70,000 Ebola vaccine doses as trial targets Bundibugyo virus The Democratic Republic of Congo has received 70,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine from the global vaccine stockpile as health authorities intensify efforts to contain an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease. The doses were released by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision following a request from the DRC government last week. The development comes amid uncertainty over the effectiveness of Ervebo against the Bundibugyo strain, which is different from the Zaire ebolavirus for which the vaccine was originally developed and licensed. Of the 70,000 doses, 20,000 have been allocated for a Phase 3 clinical trial designed to assess the vaccine’s potential impact against the Bundibugyo virus, while 50,000 doses will be administered to frontline and health workers in line with recommendations from the World Health Organisation’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization. The effectiveness of Ervebo against Bundibugyo virus in humans is currently unknown. However, preliminary laboratory and animal studies have suggested that the vaccine could offer some protection, prompting researchers to investigate its potential through the clinical trial. The trial is expected to generate evidence that could guide future decisions on the use of Ervebo in outbreaks involving the Bundibugyo strain. Health authorities have also stressed the importance of informed consent, saying people offered the vaccine must be adequately informed about its potential risks, benefits and limitations in relation to the current outbreak. The ICG is made up of the WHO, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Médecins Sans Frontières and UNICEF, while Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, funds the global vaccine stockpile. The WHO and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention welcomed the allocation, supporting the DRC’s efforts to protect affected communities and contain the outbreak through a community-led response. Both organisations said they would continue to support the DRC government in protecting communities, saving lives and generating scientific evidence that could strengthen Africa’s preparedness for future viral outbreaks. The Bundibugyo outbreak has renewed attention on the need for effective vaccines and rapid scientific responses to emerging infectious diseases, with the outcome of the DRC trial expected to provide important information for future outbreak control.
