An experimental Ebola vaccine tested on thousands of people in Guinea has proven to be 100% effective, however the results are still preliminary
ADVERTISEMENT
An experimental Ebola vaccine tested on thousands of people in Guinea has proven to be 100% effective, however the results are still preliminary.
The study involved vaccinating close contacts of patients who had contracted the virus. This created a protective buffer of immunity.
The Guinean Health Minister, Doctor Remy Lama, said he is “immensely satisfied with the news” because they have been trying “to deal with the epidemic for over a year”. He added that they were the first to “accept testing the experimental vaccine.”
Experts have also warned that different kinds of vaccines were needed that might be better suited for different population groups.
“We hope that by continuing the trial with these modifications, with doing all the vaccinations immediately and also including younger people, we will be able to assist the Ebola response team in bringing Ebola transmission to zero in Guinea,” explained Dr. Marie Paule Kieny from the World Health Organization.
Despite the remarkable results, officials at the WHO believe the effectiveness of the vaccine is likely to end up being between 75% and 100%.
The Canadian government and the pharmaceutical company Merck developed the vaccine.