Health authorities in Democratic Republic of the Congo have announced plans to introduce second experimental Ebola vaccine, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, from mid-October.
The information is on World Health Organisation official website, noting that the vaccine is given as a two-dose course, 56 days apart.
The vaccine, the information added, would be provided under approved protocols to targeted populations in areas without active Ebola transmission as an additional tool to extend protection against the virus.
According to Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, the vaccine will also be a potential tool to protect populations before outbreaks hit areas at risk.
WHO states that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine will complement the current vaccine (rVSV-ZEBOV-GP, manufactured by Merck), which has proven highly effective and safe.
It assures that the Merck vaccine will continue to be provided to all people at high risk of Ebola infection, including those who have been in contact with person or persons confirmed to have the disease, noting that “over 223,000 people have received this vaccination during the current outbreak”.
