Published on: 2026-08-20
Source: United Nations
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
August 20, 2026 Healthcare
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention welcomed the decision to allocate 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to combat the ongoing Ebola fever outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
Last week, the DRC government requested doses from the global stockpile of Ebola vaccines managed by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision. On Monday, the group informed the country’s authorities that it will allocate 70,000 doses in the first phase.
The Ervebo vaccine is licensed and recommended for use during outbreaks of disease caused by the Zaire ebolavirus. However, it is not yet known whether this vaccine can protect people against the Bundibugyo virus.
Clinical trials
Of the allocated vaccines, 20,000 doses will be used in the third phase of clinical trials to determine how effective the vaccine is against this virus, which is rapidly spreading in the DRC.
Another 50,000 doses are intended for healthcare workers and other frontline staff fighting the outbreak. This distribution aligns with the recommendations of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts.
Preliminary laboratory and animal studies indicate that “Ervebo” may provide certain protection against the Bundibugyo virus. However, there is no data on its effectiveness in humans yet.
The clinical trial is expected to provide important data necessary for decision-making about the further use of the vaccine.
Support for affected communities
WHO emphasizes that everyone who is offered the vaccine—both within the framework of the clinical trial and beyond it—must receive information about possible risks, potential benefits, and limitations. The vaccination will be administered only with the patient’s consent.
Against the backdrop of the ongoing outbreak, the WHO and African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention support the efforts of the DRC authorities aimed at protecting the population. They promote an approach in which local communities play a central role in combating the disease.
Global vaccine stockpile
The International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision was established in 1997 after major meningitis outbreaks in Africa. Its task is to manage the supply of emergency stockpiles of vaccines and antibiotics and to coordinate their distribution to countries during major disease outbreaks.
The group includes the WHO, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the organization Doctors Without Borders, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Please be advised; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It represents an accurate report of what the source asserts and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.