PRETORIA (dpa-AFX) - The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is set to receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine as the country continues to deal with its largest Ebola outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.
This comes after Congolese government requested the release of Ervebo vaccines from the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision, which includes the WHO, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Médecins Sans Frontières and UNICEF.
The agency added that the doses will come from the global Ebola vaccine stockpile. Of the 70,000 doses, 20,000 will be used in a late-stage clinical trial to study whether the vaccine can help protect people against the Bundibugyo virus. The remaining 50,000 doses will be given to frontline and healthcare workers, following recommendations from the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization.
It is not yet known whether Ervebo can protect humans against the Bundibugyo virus. However, early laboratory and animal studies suggest that it may offer some protection. The clinical trial is expected to provide more evidence about how effective the vaccine could be. The WHO said people taking part in the trial must be informed about the possible risks, benefits and limitations of the vaccine and must give their consent before receiving it.
The WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention welcomed the vaccine allocation, calling it an important boost to the Ebola response.
'Africa CDC and WHO are united in support of the Government of the DRC, to protect affected communities, save lives and bring the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak to an end, while generating the scientific evidence needed to strengthen Africa's preparedness for future outbreaks,' the WHO stated.
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