Health workers in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have begun receiving a vaccine aimed at providing protection against the Ebola virus, which is a significant concern in the region.
The vaccination initiative kicked off on Saturday in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, where the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history is currently centered.
Major-General Gaby Kasongo Mulumba, the provincial governor, noted that health workers are “particularly exposed and deeply involved in the response” to the outbreak.
This operation, supported by both the World Health Organization and Doctors Without Borders, also extends to North Kivu, where cases have surged significantly, according to local health authorities.
About 50,000 health and frontline workers will receive the Ervebo vaccine, which was originally designed for the more prevalent Zaire strain of Ebola.
Out of these, 20,000 recipients will be monitored for a year to assess the vaccine’s effectiveness against the current outbreak, which is attributed to the Bundibugyo virus.
There are still ongoing clinical trials to discover a licensed vaccine specifically for this latest outbreak, as no approved vaccine or confirmed treatment exists yet.
Steve Ahuka, a Congolese official part of the health task force, expressed uncertainty about how effective the Ervebo vaccine might be against the Bundibugyo strain. “We don’t know to what degree it might be effective,” he stated.
Dr. Jeannot Elua, speaking at a health facility in Bunia, described the vaccine as “beneficial.” He emphasized that healthcare workers have little option but to accept it, adding, “Some people here had already received the previous vaccine. I received it myself, because it was mandatory.”
Experts from the WHO have pointed out that early data, particularly from animal trials concerning the Ervebo vaccine, indicates some potential to protect against the ongoing outbreak.
Since May, the virus has led to at least 3,639 deaths and has infected around 7,541 individuals, with 1,823 reported recoveries, according to the latest figures from local authorities.
The WHO mentioned in August that 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine were authorized for use within the DRC.
This vaccine is being deployed under a compassionate-use protocol, which allows for its use in serious disease situations despite lacking formal approval for the specific context.
While WHO officials have observed “encouraging signs” suggesting that transmission rates might be leveling off, MSF has cautioned that there is no definitive evidence indicating the epidemic is under control.
