DRC receives 70,000 Ebola vaccine doses for trial and frontline protection

Following a formal request from the DRC authorities, the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision approved an urgent shipment of 70,000 Ervebo doses. Of this supply, 20,000 doses are set aside for a Phase 3 study designed to assess whether the vaccine, which is approved for Ebola virus disease, can also guard against the Bundibugyo strain now circulating. Early laboratory work hints at possible cross‑protection, but human evidence is lacking, making the trial essential for future policy guidance. Participants will be briefed on known risks and potential benefits before consenting to vaccination.

The remaining 50,000 doses are allocated to doctors, nurses, and other essential personnel operating in the outbreak zones. WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have highlighted the importance of a community‑driven approach, urging local volunteers and leaders to take a central role in outreach, risk communication, and vaccine administration. By safeguarding those who deliver care, the strategy aims to keep health services functional and limit further spread among the broader population, aligning with international recommendations for emergency vaccine use.

The emergency vaccine reserve is overseen by the ICG, a partnership that includes WHO, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Médecins Sans Frontières and UNICEF. Funding for the stockpile is provided by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Since the mechanism began in early 2021, more than 56,000 Ervebo doses have been deployed to respond to Ebola outbreaks, and an additional 167,000 doses have supported preventive campaigns for health workers across several African nations, including the DRC, Guinea‑Bissau, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Uganda. The current allocation builds on this established framework to ensure rapid, equitable access during emergencies.