The World Health Organisation has begun Ebola virus vaccination for frontline health workers and other people infected by the virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kasai Province where an outbreak of the disease was reported.  

The spokesperson for WHO, Eugene Kabambi, made this announcement in a statement on Sunday.

The WHO said in the statement, “An initial 400 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine—from the country’s stockpile of 2000 doses prepositioned in the capital Kinshasa—have been delivered to Bulape, one of the current hotspots of the outbreak. Additional doses will be delivered to the affected localities in the coming days.  The International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision has approved around 45 000 additional Ebola vaccine doses to be shipped to the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of the ongoing outbreak response.”

According to WHO, the vaccine is being administered through ring vaccination strategy, which entails vaccinating individuals at highest risk of infection after having come into contact with a patient confirmed with the virus.

It also recommended the vaccine for healthcare and frontline workers responding to the outbreak who may be in contact with Ebola patients.

The WHO noted that it supported the health authorities to develop the request for additional doses, and with partners, including UNICEF, which also supported the development of a vaccination plan for the rollout of the doses.

The international health body added that vaccination teams were being trained in data collection and receiving field support.

It noted efforts to support Congo’s government to rapidly strengthen outbreak response measures to halt the spread of the virus.  

The WHO said, “It has so far deployed 48 experts in disease surveillance, clinical care, infection prevention and control, logistics and community engagement who, along with partner organizations. In countries neighbouring the Democratic Republic of Congo, WHO is working with national authorities to bolster operational readiness to enable rapid detection of cases and prompt initiation of measures to curb further spread.”