DRC Launches Vaccination Campaign for Healthcare Workers Amid Ebola Outbreak
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) began vaccinating front-line healthcare workers on August 28, 2026, in response to an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain. The vaccination campaign employs the Ervebo vaccine, which is licensed for the Zaire Ebola strain, to provide partial protection and support ongoing research.
The International Coordinating Group has released 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine for this effort. Of these, 50,000 doses are allocated specifically for healthcare and frontline workers, while the remaining 20,000 doses are reserved for a Phase III clinical trial to assess the vaccine's efficacy against the Bundibugyo virus.
The current outbreak in eastern DRC has resulted in over 5,000 confirmed cases and more than 2,642 deaths, highlighting the rapid spread and severity of the virus. As there is no licensed vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, this vaccination initiative is a critical measure in the ongoing response.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa CDC have facilitated the allocation of Ervebo doses to the DRC, aligning with recommendations from WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts. The Phase III trial aims to determine whether Ervebo can offer any immunological benefit against the Bundibugyo strain, despite being tailored for a different virus.