Breakthrough vaccine to fight ebola virus disease discovered after 40 years
I'm happy to report that there hasn't been a breakthrough vaccine to fight Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) discovered after 40 years, but rather, there have been significant advancements in the development of Ebola vaccines over the past decade.
In 2014, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa highlighted the urgent need for effective vaccines against the virus. Since then, several Ebola vaccine candidates have been developed, tested, and approved for use in various settings.
Here are some key milestones:
- rVSV-ZEBOV: In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) approved the use of the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, developed by Merck, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to combat an Ebola outbreak. This vaccine has been shown to be highly effective in preventing Ebola infection.
- Ad26.ZEBOV: In 2019, the WHO approved the use of the Ad26.ZEBOV vaccine, developed by Johnson & Johnson, in the DRC to combat an Ebola outbreak. This vaccine has also been shown to be effective in preventing Ebola infection.
- mRNA-1273: In 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the mRNA-1273 vaccine, developed by Moderna Therapeutics, for use in the United States. This vaccine has been shown to be highly effective in preventing Ebola infection.
These vaccines have been developed using various technologies, including recombinant viral vectors, mRNA, and adenovirus vectors. They have undergone rigorous testing, including Phase III clinical trials, to ensure their safety and efficacy.
While there hasn't been a single "breakthrough" vaccine discovered after 40 years, the collective efforts of researchers, scientists, and public health officials have led to significant progress in the development of Ebola vaccines. These vaccines have been instrumental in controlling and preventing Ebola outbreaks, saving countless lives, and protecting public health.