WHO could make decision on mass Ebola vaccinations this summer

The World Health Organization announced an independent advisory body will decide whether to recommend widespread introduction of the Ebola vaccine in August at the earliest, according to a Reuters report.

WHO's Strategy Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization's decision will depend on the results of clinical trials and the course of the current epidemic.

Currently, Liberia is testing two Ebola vaccines — one from GlaxoSmithKline and one from Merck-NewLink — and Sierra Leone and Guinea are expected to announce plans for trials soon, according to the report.

Although thousands of health workers have volunteered to participate in the trials after being exposed to the virus, whether vaccinating mass populations will be effective remains to be seen.

According to a statement from WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris, "We know the vaccines are safe, we know they produce a good immunogenic response in humans, but we don't know if they are effective when you actually have disease in community."

Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone reported 99 new confirmed Ebola cases in the week to Feb. 22, down from 128 the previous week.

 

 

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