Uganda has launched the world’s first trial for a vaccine against the Sudan virus strain of Ebola, in a groundbreaking move that demonstrates the country’s preparedness for pandemic response. The trial, conducted by Ugandan researchers and partners from the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to assess the clinical efficacy of a vaccine candidate against Ebola disease.
The trial was made possible due to advanced research preparedness and compliance with national and international regulatory requirements. The candidate vaccine, donated by International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and supported by WHO, CEPI, Canada’s IDRC, EU HERA, and Africa CDC, will be administered to approximately 40 contacts of a confirmed case.
The trial is designed as a ring vaccination cluster randomized trial, which involves targeted vaccination of recent contacts to create a buffer zone against infection propagation. This study design was previously used in the Ebola ça suffit trial in Guinea in 2015 by WHO and the Ministry of Health of Guinea.
According to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, this achievement showcases dedication from Ugandan health workers, communities, and research efforts led by WHO. The trial is a critical step towards better pandemic preparedness and saving lives during outbreaks.
Source: https://www.who.int/news/item/03-02-2025-groundbreaking-ebola-vaccination-trial-launches-today-in-uganda