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The Ministry of Health in Uganda has received a consignment of 25,060 doses of Johnson & Johnson Ebola vaccines. These vaccines are intended for preventive vaccination efforts in 20 districts across the country that are at higher risk of Ebola outbreaks. Lt Col Dr Henry Kyobe, the Ebola incident commander at the ministry, received the vaccines on behalf of the government at the National Medical Stores (NMS) warehouse in Kajjansi, Wakiso.
Dr. Kyobe highlighted that the vaccination process, consisting of two doses, is scheduled to commence around May. He emphasized the importance of vaccination as a crucial addition to existing control measures against Ebola, which have been in place since the identification of the virus in 1976.
The targeted vaccination campaign will primarily focus on health workers in the specified districts, providing an additional layer of protection for those at high risk of exposure to the Ebola virus. Dr. Kyobe emphasized that the vaccines target the Zaire Ebolavirus strain, which has previously caused outbreaks in Uganda, including the most recent one in September 2022.
The selected districts for vaccination border the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), spanning from West Nile to Kisoro. Additionally, certain areas in Kampala city, with a higher risk of individuals interacting with Ebola, will be included in the vaccination campaign. Due to limited vaccine doses, priority will be given to health workers and facilities in these high-risk regions.
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Dr. Kyobe clarified that the vaccination process involves both a primer dose and a booster dose. As preventive vaccination, the process does not require immediate deployment and can be conducted methodically. The vaccines were donated following a request by the Ministry of Health.
According to information from Johnson & Johnson, the Ebola vaccine regimen is indicated for active immunization to prevent Ebola Virus Disease caused by the Zaire ebolavirus species in individuals aged one year and above. The vaccine consists of two doses: Zabdeno (Ad26.ZEBOV) and Mvabea (MVA-BN-Filo), administered approximately eight weeks apart.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has licensed two types of Ebola vaccines for use, including the one manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. The WHO emphasizes that while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine offers preventive benefits, its two-dose regimen is not suitable for immediate outbreak response situations, where immediate protection is necessary.
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