In August 2015 Dr Sakoba Keita, who led the Ebola response in Guinea during the largest Ebola outbreak the world has ever seen, declared, “The Ebola vaccine is a gift from Guinea to West Africa and the world.”
Back in 2015, some of us felt that his statement was possibly a bit too much considering that the vaccine was not licensed. In addition, we knew from bitter experience that the vaccine was only one part of the Ebola response pillar. Others included community engagement and surveillance. The aim is to provide additional information and to evaluate the safety and immune response generated by a two-dose Ebola vaccine regimen manufactured by Janssen Vaccines and Prevention. The study will take place at the Epicentre Mbarara research centre in Mbarara in the south west of the country. It will last for two years and will include 800 healthcare and frontline workers.The vaccine regimen uses a “prime-boost” approach. This involves two doses 56 days apart.
The Janssen vaccine could provide an alternative to the Merck vaccine being used in DRC. This would be ideal as it is critical to have different options to prevent and control the Ebola virus. This isn’t just the case for Ebola: we cannot imagine having only one drug for treating other diseases such as malaria.
Prof Jean-Jacques Muyembe has been named the head of the committee. He led the first implementation of the Merck vaccine in DRC.The outcome of the study will be watched with intense interest for a number of reasons. The first is that it is expected to provide evidence that will enable the vaccine to be registered, opening the door to having another tool with which to fight Ebola in DRC and elsewhere.