DRC secures 70,000 Ervebo vaccine doses for Bundibugyo virus outbreak

DRC — The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has requested vaccines from the global Ebola vaccine stockpile to support the response to the ongoing Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak.

The International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG), which manages the stockpile, has approved an initial release of 70,000 doses of Ervebo.

Vaccine allocation

The ICG will allocate 20,000 doses to a Phase 3 clinical trial designed to assess whether Ervebo can protect people against Bundibugyo virus.

The remaining 50,000 doses will support vaccination of frontline and healthcare workers, in line with current recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE).

Ervebo is licensed and recommended for use during outbreaks caused by Ebola virus disease associated with Zaire ebolavirus.

However, researchers have not established whether the vaccine can protect humans against Bundibugyo virus, which is a different species of ebolavirus.

Laboratory and animal studies have provided early evidence that Ervebo could offer some protection against the virus.

However, researchers need clinical evidence to determine whether the vaccine is effective in humans.

The planned clinical trial will therefore generate evidence that could help policymakers assess the vaccine’s potential role in future Bundibugyo virus outbreaks.

Informed consent and community engagement

Health authorities and researchers must also ensure that people offered Ervebo understand its potential benefits, risks and limitations in the context of the current outbreak.

Participants in the clinical trial, as well as people receiving the vaccine outside the trial, should receive clear information and provide informed consent before vaccination.

The ICG brings together WHO, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Médecins Sans Frontières and Unicef.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, provides financial support for the global vaccine stockpile.

WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have welcomed the allocation and expressed support for the DRC’s response to the outbreak.

Focus on Community-Led Response

Against the backdrop of the ongoing outbreak, WHO and Africa CDC support the DRC’s focus on protecting affected communities and strengthening community participation in the response.

Both organizations emphasize an approach that gives communities a central role in identifying needs, communicating health information, and supporting outbreak-control measures.

WHO and Africa CDC are working with the DRC government to protect communities, reduce deaths, and control the Bundibugyo virus outbreak while supporting research to generate evidence that can strengthen preparedness for future outbreaks.

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