Kenya seeks 10,000 Ebola vaccine doses for 5,000 healthcare workers
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Capital FM
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has asked the World Health Organization for 10,000 doses of a vaccine against the Zaire strain, intended for 5,000 healthcare workers and frontline responders to the Bundibugyo outbreak. Director-General Patrick Amoth hopes for cross-protection, although its efficacy against this strain has not been established, Capital FM reports.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has asked the World Health Organization (WHO) for 10,000 doses of the Zaire Ebola virus vaccine to immunise 5,000 healthcare workers and frontline responders exposed to the Bundibugyo outbreak. Director-General of Health Patrick Amoth said the request was intended to strengthen protection for personnel responding to the outbreak, Capital FM reports.
Kenyan authorities hope the Zaire Ebola virus vaccine will offer cross-protection against the Bundibugyo strain because of similarities between the two viruses. However, this efficacy has not been scientifically established: the vaccine is designed for the Zaire strain and any possible protection against Bundibugyo has yet to be demonstrated.
The proposed vaccination would target personnel responsible for surveillance, patient care and the outbreak response. The request comes after eight Ebola cases were reported in Kenya on 20 October, in an assessment reported in Ebola: eight cases in Kenya, and as Rwanda had supplied medicines for the outbreak on 19 October, according to Rwanda supplies medicines for the outbreak.
