By Gift Briton
A recent study on the Ebola vaccine (rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP) has shown an 84% reduction in the risk of developing Ebola disease among vaccinated individuals.
The study, which analyzed data from over 300,000 individuals vaccinated during the 2018-2020 Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), showed that vaccination with rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP offered high protection against the development of Ebola virus disease from the tenth day after vaccination.
rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP is a single-dose vaccine and the only Ebola vaccine recommended for use by the World Health Organization (WHO) for people at high risk of contracting the disease during an epidemic.
The study was conducted by Epicentre, the epidemiology and medical research arm of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), in collaboration with the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) and the Ministry of Public Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“This study dispels uncertainties about the vaccine’s effectiveness: it is the first published study to evaluate the effectiveness of the rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP vaccine outside of a clinical trial. It was carried out during the second largest Ebola epidemic on record,” says Sophie Meakin, an epidemiologist with Epicentre.
The Ebola vaccine was administered using a Ring vaccination strategy, targeting contacts of confirmed cases and healthcare workers who were at high risk of contracting the disease. This targeted approach proved successful in controlling the spread of the virus and protecting vulnerable populations during the epidemic.
According to experts, the study’s findings underscore the importance of rapid vaccination in containing and preventing Ebola outbreaks, highlighting the critical role of vaccination campaigns in public health emergencies.
Steve Ahuka, head of virology at INRB and medical professor at the University of Kinshasa, emphasises the importance of systematic and rigorous data collection during epidemics, despite the challenges: “These are unique opportunities to deepen our knowledge of often rare diseases, and thus improve the management of future epidemics, develop new control tools and determine the best strategies for using them effectively”.
In addition to reducing the risk of developing Ebola disease, the clinical trials also demonstrated that vaccination with rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP halved mortality rates among individuals infected with Ebola, further emphasizing the life-saving potential of the vaccine.
These promising results provide valuable insights into the vaccine’s efficacy and its role in mitigating the impact of Ebola outbreaks on affected populations. The study reinforces the importance of timely and widespread vaccination in combatting infectious diseases such as Ebola.
