The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is set to receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine from the global Ebola virus disease vaccine stockpile, according to announcements made by the Aljazeera. The allocation follows a request submitted last week by the Congolese government to the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision.
DR Congo to Receive 70,000 Doses Amid Severe Outbreak
The fast-spreading epidemic has affected 56 health zones across six provinces in eastern Congo, including Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Bas-Uele, and Tshopo. Confirmed infections have reached 5,208 cases, resulting in 2,476 deaths according to health ministry updates. The overall case fatality rate stands at 47.5%, though it climbs as high as 70% in more challenging response areas such as North Kivu. At present, 730 patients remain in isolation or hospital, while 1,115 individuals have recovered.
Breakdown of the Vaccine Allocation and Clinical Trial
The 70,000 doses secured for the DRC are divided into two distinct operational categories:
- Phase 3 Clinical Trial: 20,000 doses will be dedicated to a late-stage trial designed to evaluate the vaccine’s impact on the Bundibugyo virus.
- Front-line Protection: 50,000 doses will be administered to frontline and health workers, in alignment with recommendations from the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE).
While the Ervebo vaccine is licensed and recommended for outbreaks of the Ebola virus (formerly designated as Zaire ebolavirus), it is not licensed for the Bundibugyo strain driving the current crisis. Furthermore, no specific treatment or vaccine has been officially approved for the Bundibugyo virus.
It is not known whether Ervebo may be protective against the Bundibugyo virus in humans,
the WHO stated, noting that early laboratory and animal data indicate it may offer some level of protection. Consequently, the clinical trial is intended to generate critical scientific evidence to guide future policy decisions.
Funding, International Support, and Broader Response Strategies
Financial backing for the deployment is substantial. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, committed $7 million to fund the shipment to the DRC alongside an additional $6 million dedicated to supporting vaccination activities in high-risk zones.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the vaccine approval as an important example of global solidarity in action.
The International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision relies on core partners including the WHO, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Médecins Sans Frontières, and UNICEF, with Gavi providing ongoing financial support for the emergency stockpile.
United Nations officials and partner agencies are scaling up containment operations across the region. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, outlined five operational priorities defined by senior Ebola coordinator Julian Harneis: tripling safe care capacity, strengthening community engagement, doubling the number of safe and dignified burial teams, expanding disease surveillance, and increasing support for vulnerable populations. Additionally, the Congolese government, backed by the UN, launched the Congo River Without Ebola
initiative to sharpen preparedness and disease surveillance as authorities work to bring the outbreak under control.
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