Congo began vaccinating people against Ebola on Thursday as health authorities strive to slow what is the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease in history.
Health workers and other frontline personnel involved in the Ebola response are being prioritized to receive the Ervebo vaccine, which proved effective in previous Ebola outbreaks caused by a different, more common strain. Clinical trials are underway to identify a licensed vaccine for the current outbreak.
"We have decided to use the Ervebo vaccine to protect first those who are on the front line," stated Health Minister Roger Kamba during the launch of the vaccination campaign in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province, one of six provinces affected by Ebola in the east.
Government figures indicated that as of Tuesday, the country had registered 5,713 confirmed cases, resulting in 2,744 deaths. The outbreak is concentrated in Ituri province and is recognized as the deadliest among all 17 past Ebola outbreaks in the nation.
The spread of the outbreak is complicated by extremely difficult conditions, including insecurity, displacement, a health workers’ strike, and intense population movements. The World Health Organization has reported that the situation remains out of control and is projected to surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which was the deadliest on record, claiming over 11,000 lives primarily in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Congo’s state news agency confirmed receipt of more than 50,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine.
The World Health Organization announced last week that 70,000 doses of Ervebo had been approved for use in Congo.
Approximately 50,000 doses are designated for frontline and health workers, while 20,000 doses will be utilized in a clinical trial to assess the vaccine's protection against the Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for the current outbreak and lacks a licensed vaccine or treatment.
The vaccine is being administered under a compassionate-use program, which permits the use of a medical product in a serious disease situation even if it has not received specific approval for that particular application.
Health authorities noted that Ervebo might offer some protection against the Bundibugyo virus because the two viruses are related. However, whether the vaccine can actually prevent illness in individuals infected with Bundibugyo Ebola is still under investigation.
Placide Mbala Kingebeni, Africa CDC’s director for research, clinical trials and innovation, mentioned that data will be collected throughout the vaccination campaign to evaluate the vaccine's efficacy.
The campaign is anticipated to cover 14 health zones across Tshopo, Bas-Uele, and Haut-Uele provinces.
Kamba strongly urged health workers to receive the vaccine, stating it could protect them from the disease and help prevent them from transmitting the virus into their communities.