Uganda’s Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and key partners, has launched the world’s first vaccine trial for the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus. This landmark trial, initiated just four days after the outbreak was confirmed on January 30, marks an unprecedented pace for a randomized vaccine study in an emergency setting.
Leading the trial are principal investigators from Makerere University and the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), supported by WHO and other partners. The trial aims to assess the clinical efficacy of a vaccine against Ebola Sudan, demonstrating the impact of advanced research preparedness while ensuring strict adherence to national and international regulatory and ethical standards.
The candidate vaccine was donated by IAVI, with financial backing from WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and the European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA). The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) also provided critical support.
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WHO: Groundbreaking Ebola vaccination trial launches today in Uganda
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