Health workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have started receiving an Ebola vaccine to protect them on the front lines of a deadly outbreak. The vaccination campaign began on Saturday in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, which is at the center of the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic in history. Doctors and nurses are at high risk of infection because they care directly for sick patients every day.
Authorities plan to vaccinate about 50,000 frontline workers using a vaccine called Ervebo. This vaccine was originally developed to fight the Zaire strain of Ebola. However, the current outbreak in the DRC is caused by a different type called the Bundibugyo strain, which currently has no licensed vaccine or proven treatment. Early data and animal trials suggest Ervebo might provide some protection, but medical experts do not yet know how effective it will be against this specific strain.
Because of this uncertainty, health agencies are administering the vaccine under a compassionate-use program, which allows experimental medical products to be used during serious health emergencies. A group of 20,000 workers will participate in a one-year study to monitor how well the vaccine protects against the Bundibugyo virus. Health officials explained that even potential protection is vital for doctors and nurses facing constant exposure to the disease.
Since the outbreak began in May, the virus has infected more than 7,500 people and killed over 3,600 in the DRC. While the World Health Organization noted encouraging signs that transmission may be slowing, Doctors Without Borders warned that there is no clear proof the epidemic is coming under control. Health leaders hope that protecting health workers will help keep treatment centers open and save lives.