National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Ekpenyong Emmanuel
The World Health Organization (WHO) has commended the rapid deployment of an Ebola vaccine trial in Uganda, as the country battles its sixth outbreak of the Sudan strain of the virus.
Mike Ryan, WHO’s emergencies director, expressed optimism about the vaccine’s potential, saying, “I believe this is a real step forward. This vaccine is based on the same platform that was used to develop the very effective vaccine for Ebola Zaire, so I believe there’s a real chance that this vaccine will be very effective.”
The vaccine trial, which began on Monday, has already seen 2,400 doses distributed, with a focus on contacts of the initial case.
Ryan emphasized that the vaccine is specifically designed for outbreak situations and has been proven safe in safety trials.
However, he noted that the duration of protection offered by the vaccine is still unknown .
Uganda’s latest Ebola outbreak has claimed the life of a nurse, highlighting the urgent need for effective countermeasures.
The WHO has praised Uganda’s swift response, including the rapid sequencing of the virus, which was completed in under 24 hours.
Ryan also addressed concerns about the US withdrawal from the WHO, saying, “I’m very sad at the loss of US colleagues in the US collaboration with the World Health Organization, but we’ve learned a lot, and the world has moved on too.”
The WHO has been working closely with Ugandan authorities to contain the outbreak, and Ryan’s comments suggest that the organization is committed to supporting the country’s response efforts.
