The Democratic Republic of Congo has received an initial shipment of 16,520 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine as authorities intensify efforts to contain the country’s ongoing outbreak, health officials said.
Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said more than 50,000 additional doses are expected by Monday, significantly expanding the vaccination response.
“These doses would strengthen the government’s response to Ebola and contribute to the protection of populations, with the support of our partners,” Kamba told reporters in Kinshasa.
The World Health Organization said earlier that 70,000 doses would be provided to Congo from the global Ebola vaccine stockpile. Of these, 20,000 are intended for a Phase 3 clinical trial examining whether Ervebo can provide protection against the Bundibugyo virus, while the remainder will be used to protect frontline and healthcare workers.
There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease.
Ervebo is licensed and recommended for outbreaks caused by Zaire ebolavirus, although preliminary research has suggested it could offer some protection against the Bundibugyo strain.
The current outbreak has reached 5,290 confirmed infections and more than 2,500 deaths, according to the latest figures released by Congo’s Health Ministry.