WHO Calls An Ebola Vaccine Candidate Is Estimated To Be Sent To Uganda Next Week

JAKARTA - Three proposed Ebola vaccine candidates for clinical trials are expected to be sent to Uganda next week, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

The candidates include vaccines under development by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India, Sabin Vaccine Institute, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, and Merck & Co Inc.

Dr. Tedros explained that the committee of external experts of the global health agency has evaluated and agreed, to include the three vaccine candidates in the planned trial.

The virus circulating in Uganda is Sudan's Ebola strain, where no vaccine has yet been proven, unlike the more common Zare strain, which spread during the recent outbreak in neighboring the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The WHO did not disclose details on the number of doses expected to be sent or used in the planned trial.

"We have received confirmation from the developer that sufficient doses of the vaccine will be available for trials and so on, if necessary," said Ana Maria Henao-Restrepo of WHO.

Dr. Tedros said the expert committee had selected two investigative therapies for Ebola and planned test designs, which were being submitted for approval.

added Dr. Tedros, with six more Ebola cases and two confirmed deaths in Uganda last week, the total number now stands at 141 cases and 55 deaths.