Uganda Ebola Vaccine Trials Planned For July

Phase two human trials for the Ebola vaccine are expected to begin in July.

The trials will be managed by the Uganda Virus Research-Institute (UVRI) using the Janssen Ebola Vaccine. Phase one and two trials have already taken place in the UK.

The trial will see volunteers administered with two doses, a primary dose followed by a booster. Specialists hope to be able to use the vaccine to help contain and tackle the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where more than 1,223 have died since it began in August 2018.

According to UVRI Director Prof Pontiano Kaleebu the vaccine has shown impressive results in animal trials to date, providing protection of over 90%. 

Over 4,000 health worked in Uganda have already received the Ebola-rV5V vaccine, developed by Merck pharmaceuticals.