MSF says the current Ebola outbreak has a mortality rate comparable to the one in West Africa despite new vaccinesImage caption: MSF says the current Ebola outbreak has a mortality rate comparable to the one in West Africa despite new vaccines
The World Health Organization (WHO) has been accused by a medical charity of rationing the Ebola vaccine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Natalie Roberts, emergency co-ordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), said in a statement:
Quote Message: It’s like giving firefighters a bucket of water to put out a fire, but only allowing them to use one cup of water a day.”
It’s like giving firefighters a bucket of water to put out a fire, but only allowing them to use one cup of water a day.”
The WHO denies the allegation, but says there have been shortages of the vaccine, manufactured by Merck, which is currently in use.
Congolese health officials have said they will start using a second vaccine, produced by Johnson & Johnson, to improve the situation.
However, the MSF has called for independent monitoring of vaccine stocks.
Isabelle Defourny, MSF director of operations, said that “upping the pace of vaccination” was feasible:
Quote Message: At least 2,000-2,500 people could be vaccinated each day, instead of 500-1,000 people as is currently the case.
At least 2,000-2,500 people could be vaccinated each day, instead of 500-1,000 people as is currently the case.
Quote Message: We have a vaccine that is proven to be safe and effective; we have teams ready to be deployed; there is no problem with the cold chain; there are enough doses to cover the current needs and to allow for an extension of vaccination coverage, as recently confirmed by Merck, the vaccine manufacturer; and when people are aware of the vaccine, the vast majority of them want to be vaccinated.”
We have a vaccine that is proven to be safe and effective; we have teams ready to be deployed; there is no problem with the cold chain; there are enough doses to cover the current needs and to allow for an extension of vaccination coverage, as recently confirmed by Merck, the vaccine manufacturer; and when people are aware of the vaccine, the vast majority of them want to be vaccinated.”
Ebola has killed more than 2,100 in the DR Congo over the past year.
MSF says the current Ebola outbreak has a mortality rate comparable to the one in West Africa, despite new treatments and the availability of vaccines.