The Ebola vaccine was rolled out this weekend in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the priority being on healthcare staff in Bunia, the epicentre of the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease in history, reports AP.
They and other frontline workers are being given the Ervebo vaccine that was effective in past Ebola outbreaks, caused by the more common Zaire strain.
Clinical trials are ongoing to find a vaccine for the current Bundibugyo virus outbreak, which has no licensed treatment.
The rollout is focusing on the Bunia and Mongbwalu zones in Ituri province, with health authorities saying the two areas are among the hardest hit. Around 20 000 frontline workers expected to be covered over a period of six to nine months.
By Saturday, the DRC had recorded 7 541 confirmed cases, including 3 639 deaths, while 1 823 people have recovered. The WHO has said the outbreak remains out of control.
Dr Jeannot Elua, from a health facility in Bunia, said the vaccine was “beneficial”.
“We healthcare workers don’t really have a choice: we are going to receive it,” he said. “Some people here had already received the previous vaccine. I received it myself, because it was mandatory.”
The WHO said 70 000 doses have been approved for the DRC. About 50 000 doses are intended for frontline and health workers, while 20 000 doses will be used in a clinical trial to study whether the vaccine protects against Bundibugyo.
The vaccine is being used under a compassionate-use programme.
Health authorities said Ervebo could offer some protection against Bundibugyo because the two viruses are related. But whether it can actually prevent illness in people infected with Bundibugyo is still being studied.
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