The Democratic Republic of the Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ebola vaccine
70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine will be sent to the Democratic Republic of the Congo amid an Ebola outbreak. Part of the vaccine will be used to vaccinate healthcare workers and other personnel on the front lines of the fight against the disease, while another 20,000 doses will be used for clinical trials. At the same time, experts do not yet know to what extent this vaccine provides protection specifically against the Bundibujo strain, which caused the current outbreak.
An outbreak of the disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus is ongoing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Last week, the country’s government requested a vaccine allocation from the global stockpile managed by the International Vaccine Coordination Group. On Monday, the ICG announced its decision to immediately deliver 70,000 doses of Ervebo to the DRC. The World Health Organization and the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention welcomed this decision.
The Ervebo vaccine is already licensed and recommended for use during Ebola outbreaks caused by the Zaire strain of the virus. However, the current situation is more complex, as the outbreak in the DRC is linked to a different strain—Bundibugyo. Therefore, medical experts cannot say with certainty how effective the vaccine will be against this variant of the virus. Based on preliminary laboratory studies and animal experiments, the vaccine may provide some protection, but there is not yet sufficient evidence of its effectiveness specifically in humans.
Part of the vaccine will be used for research
Of the 70,000 doses, 20,000 have been allocated for a Phase III clinical trial. This trial is intended to help scientists determine whether Ervebo truly protects people against the Bundibugyo virus and how well it works in the context of a real-world outbreak. The results of this trial could be important not only for the current situation in the DRC but also for helping experts understand whether this vaccine against Bundibugyo can be used during future outbreaks.
The WHO emphasizes that people who are offered the opportunity to participate in the study or receive the vaccine must be informed about the potential risks, benefits, and limitations of the vaccine. Study participants must also provide informed consent.
Another 50,000 doses will go to healthcare workers
Another 50,000 doses are intended for healthcare workers and others on the front lines of the outbreak response. They are at high risk of coming into contact with patients and contaminated materials. This approach is in line with the recommendations of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization. Vaccinating workers directly involved in combating the infection should help reduce the risk of the disease spreading and protect those who work with patients.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the decision to donate the vaccine. He called it an important example of global solidarity in the fight against this dangerous infection. WHO and its partners will also continue epidemiological surveillance, case finding, medical care, and community outreach. The goal is to bring the outbreak under control as quickly as possible and prevent the virus from spreading further.
What is known about vaccine supplies
The global stockpile of Ebola vaccines is managed by the International Vaccine Coordination Group. Its members include the WHO, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Doctors Without Borders, and UNICEF. Funding for the stockpile is provided by the international alliance Gavi. The ICG began managing the emergency stockpile of Ebola vaccines in 2021. Since then and through July 2026, more than 56,000 doses of Ervebo have already been distributed to respond to Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Another 167,000 doses were used for preventive vaccination of frontline healthcare and other workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. Thus, the current delivery of 70,000 doses will mark another major milestone in international aid to the DRC. At the same time, the key question now is whether Ervebo can effectively protect people specifically against the Bundibugyo strain. Clinical trials will provide the answer. This is stated in a press release from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history: at least 2,325 people have died from the virus. This figure exceeds the death toll from the 2018–2020 epidemic, according to The Guardian, citing government data.
