The Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday began its Ebola vaccination program, a day after a nurse in the northwestern town of Bikoro died.
The vaccine, which has not yet been licensed, went through human trials in a 2016 research conducted in Guinea.
The healthcare workers were the first to receive the immunisation as they are directly or indirectly in contact with infected patients, said the DRC government.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the 7,500 doses of the rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine is set to be used in the northwestern province, where 46 suspected, probable and confirmed Ebola cases and 26 deaths have been reported (as of May 18).
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated that vaccination is vital in managing the outbreak.
“Vaccination will be key to controlling this outbreak. We are grateful for the support of our partners in making this possible,” he said.
WHO indicates that the vaccine was quite successful in Guinea in 2015, when no cases of Ebola were recorded nine days or more after 5,837 were immunised.
The vaccine is awaiting review by relevant regulatory authorities.
Apart from the immunisation campaign, other efforts to control the outbreak have been launched. President Laurent Kabila on Saturday increased Ebola Emergency funds to more than $4 million.
Together with his cabinet, he also approved the provision of free healthcare services in the affected areas and specialised care to survivors and their families.
Anthony Madu, the 14-year-old Nigerian dancer from Lagos who gained admission to a prestigious ballet…
Actor-host Wayne Brady recently opened up about his early financial struggles in his now thriving…
Mia Arianna, also known as @mia.ariannaa on TikTok, helped her son become an honorary team…
Alvin Gauthier, a Grand Prairie USPS postman, recently went above and beyond to brighten a…
Maj. Gen. Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed is the first female commander of the air force and…
Benjamin E. Mays High School brought together its 272 senior class members for a meeting…
Afrika Owes' emotional response to learning that she had passed the bar exam on her…
A 49-year-old New York attorney was on April 26 sentenced to 10 years in federal…
During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Wednesday, pop legend Cher opened up…
Authorities in Florida said an 11-year-old boy was accidentally shot and killed by his 14-year-old…
The famous Taylor Schlitz family is making headlines once more as the youngest of the…
Sony Pictures Entertainment has appointed Tahra Grant as its Chief Communications Officer. She replaces Robert…
Meet Ashley M. Fox, the founder of Empify and the first in her family to…
Tyra Banks, the iconic former host of Dancing With the Stars, has made a delightful…
A Brazilian woman named Érika de Souza, 42, is under investigation for manslaughter after authorities…