Key Facts
DR Congo began vaccinating against Ebola on Thursday in the city of Kisangani, with health workers first in line. Health Minister Roger Kamba administered some of the first doses himself.
The outbreak has passed 5,600 confirmed cases and 2,700 deaths since it began in mid-May, Congolese health authorities say. The World Health Organization’s tally stood at 5,815 cases and 2,788 deaths as of August 26.
The vaccine being used was made for a different Ebola strain. Ervebo is licensed against the Zaire strain; whether it protects against the Bundibugyo strain behind this outbreak is unknown, and part of the supply will be used in a clinical trial to find out.
Congo expects 70,000 doses in total from the global vaccine stockpile: 50,000 for frontline and health workers and 20,000 for the trial.
