Uganda is intensifying its response to the recent Ebola outbreak in Kampala by preparing for the deployment of a trial vaccine. As part of efforts to contain the Sudan strain of Ebola, more than 2,000 doses of a candidate vaccine are being readied for use.
Pontiano Kaleebu, Executive Director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute, confirmed on February 2 that the research protocols for the vaccine’s deployment are being fast-tracked to secure the necessary regulatory approvals. Although the vaccine is not yet licensed, its potential to prevent further spread of the virus is crucial in the ongoing fight against the outbreak.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting Uganda’s response by providing 2,160 doses of the trial vaccine. In addition to the vaccine, research teams have been sent to the field to collaborate with local surveillance teams while awaiting approval. The goal is to assess the efficacy and safety of the vaccine, which has yet to be authorised for public use. As the country grapples with the outbreak, authorities have been investigating the source of the virus, with no additional confirmed cases reported thus far.
The ongoing Ebola outbreak, which claimed the life of a nurse in Kampala, is part of a broader regional concern, as neighbouring Tanzania and Rwanda have also dealt with viral haemorrhagic fevers. Uganda, having faced multiple Ebola outbreaks in the past, is acutely aware of the need for swift action. The current outbreak poses a particular challenge in Kampala, where the dense, mobile population could facilitate rapid spread. With a trial vaccine now being deployed, officials hope to prevent further fatalities and contain the virus before it spreads further across the region.