Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) has announced additional funding to support Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak response. New funding of US$7 million will be deployed to provide 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine through the global Ebola vaccine stockpile.

A further US$ 6 million from Gavi’s First Response Fund has also been approved to help countries and partners protect broader immunisation services in high-risk areas and lay the groundwork for Ebola vaccination. 

CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Dr Sania Nishtar who announced this , noted that the new funding will help save lives, keep other deadly diseases at bay and support the rollout of the Ervebo vaccine, which has shown promising signs in early data of offering protection against Bundibugyo,

She said , “Given the severity of this outbreak, it is important every tool we have is brought to bear to prevent loss of life and ease suffering.”

 According to the statement made available to The Guardian, the additional investment in Ervebo vaccines follows today’s decision by the International Coordination Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG)  which manages the use of Gavi-funded global vaccine stockpiles for outbreak response  to allocate an initial tranche of 70,000 Ervebo doses to DRC.

It noted that the proven safety of the Ervebo vaccine, which has been successfully used to fight several Ebola Zaire outbreaks, along with early evidence that it could help reduce severe illness and deaths from BVD makes it an important tool to potentially save lives in what has now become the largest Ebola outbreak in DRC’s history.

The organisation stated that with these vaccines readily available through the stockpile, deployment could happen rapidly, with administration based on guidance from the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (WHO SAGE).

Gavi will provide US$ 6 million to protect immunisation services and prepare for Ebola vaccination, as part of a wider commitment of up to US$ 50 million through the Gavi First Response Fund made in May”, it added.

Gavi said that of the total US$ 6 million, approximately US$ 4 million will help DRC ensure the continuity of immunisation services to more than 1.17 million children under the age of two across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo and Haut-Uele provinces. “This is vital given the experience of the West African Ebola epidemic, when the collapse of routine immunisation resulted in a comparable number of children dying from measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases. The funding will also help the DRC strengthen immunisation monitoring and reporting, and community engagement to maintain confidence in vaccination services*.

Alongside funding to DRC, US$ 1.5 million from the FRF allocation will fund Africa CDC, WHO and UNICEF’s technical support to countries and the region. A further US$500,000 will be invested in strengthening routine immunisation and improving data systems in Uganda, as well as preparing for potential future Ebola vaccine deployment, the statement added.

Among other activities, the funding for DRC will enable mobile vaccination teams in highest-risk provinces to reach affected communities, providing vaccines, vitamin A and deworming, and help strengthen immunisation monitoring and reporting, as well as community engagement to maintain confidence in vaccination services. Protecting broader immunisation services is critical as insecurity, displacement, and fear of illness make it more difficult for caregivers to seek health services – leading to preventable deaths and increasing the risk of outbreaks of other infectious diseases.

Similarly, the funding for Uganda will support the resilience of routine immunisation services and infrastructure in the areas at highest risk for BVD importation – while also strengthening community acceptance ahead of potential Ebola vaccination.

The funding for Africa CDC, WHO and UNICEF will enable partners to provide technical support to the region, helping lay the foundation for an Ebola vaccine response. This includes areas such as BVD-related programmatic guidance, coordination, monitoring, reporting and learning; supply chain readiness; strengthening community trust and vaccine demand; and protecting routine immunisation and healthcare workers.