Sierra Leone vaccinates frontline workers against Ebola

SIERRA LEONE—Sierra Leone has launched a nationwide preventive Ebola vaccine campaign aimed at 20,000 frontline workers in all 16 districts, making it the first West African country to embark on such a large-scale preventive initiative.

This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in collaboration with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF, marks a significant milestone in the country’s public health efforts.

The campaign comes a decade after the devastating 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which had a profound impact on Sierra Leone.

The vaccination campaign uses a single dose of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine to protect healthcare workers, first responders, motorbike and ambulance drivers, traditional healers, religious leaders, security personnel, and other high-risk individuals.

 The vaccines are sourced from Gavi’s globally funded stockpile, managed by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision.

Sierra Leone was among the hardest-hit countries during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, with nearly 9,000 confirmed and probable cases and close to 4,000 deaths.

The health crisis claimed the lives of 7% of the country’s healthcare workers, who were significantly more vulnerable to infection than the general population.

Reflecting on this, Dr. Austin Demby, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, emphasized that protecting frontline workers is crucial for the country’s National Health Security Plan, ensuring resilience against future health threats.

The 2014 outbreak, declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO, claimed over 11,000 lives worldwide.

There were no approved Ebola vaccines at the time. Gavi acted swiftly to incentivize vaccine development, eventually securing 300,000 investigational doses of Ervebo.

By 2021, Gavi had established a global stockpile of 500,000 doses, managed by UNICEF, WHO, and other partners.

Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, highlighted how vaccination has transformed the fight against Ebola, protecting lives, health systems, and economies.

She commended Sierra Leone for leading the first nationwide preventive campaign, noting its significance as the country most deeply affected by the 2014 outbreak.

WHO, UNICEF, and other partners have provided logistical support, vaccine procurement, and cold-chain infrastructure to ensure the vaccine’s safe storage and delivery.

Community engagement initiatives have also been implemented to encourage vaccine acceptance and trust.

Other countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, have conducted similar campaigns, with more nations, such as the Central African Republic, planning to follow suit.

This Gavi’s program aims to provide protection to 18 at-risk countries, reducing the likelihood of future outbreaks. 

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