DAKAR — The Democratic Republic of Congo launched its first round of Ebola vaccinations on Thursday, targeting frontline health workers in the northeastern city of Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province. Health Minister Samuel‑Roger Kamba announced that more than 50,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine have arrived, and the initial rollout will use 20,000 of the 70,000 doses allocated for a clinical trial.

Why Ervebo?

Ervebo is licensed for the Zaire species of Ebola and has proven effective in past outbreaks. The current epidemic, however, is driven by the Bundibugyo species, for which no approved vaccine or treatment exists. Early animal studies suggest Ervebo may offer partial protection against Bundibugyo, prompting authorities to test its efficacy in humans.

Vaccination Plan

The campaign will prioritize health workers in the six provinces most affected by the outbreak, beginning with Tshopo and expanding outward to surrounding provinces, especially Ituri, where the virus was first detected and remains most concentrated. The Ministry aims to vaccinate all frontline staff before moving on to broader community protection.

Outbreak Statistics

Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, the government reports 5,794 infections and 2,786 deaths, making it the world’s second deadliest Ebola epidemic on record. The rapid vaccination effort is part of a broader strategy that includes developing new vaccines specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain, with candidates from the University of Oxford and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative currently in trial phases.

Looking Ahead

Officials hope the trial will provide critical data on Ervebo’s cross‑species protection, informing future response efforts. In the meantime, health workers continue to receive protective equipment and training to reduce transmission risk while the vaccine rollout proceeds.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.