Kenya set to benefit as Gavi speeds up Ebola vaccine search

Kenya will benefit from a global push to develop and make available a vaccine against a deadly strain of Ebola currently causing outbreaks in neighbouring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

 On Thursday, Unicef and Gavi announced a new call to vaccine developers and manufacturers aimed at speeding up access to vaccines against Bundibugyo Ebolavirus disease, a highly deadly form of Ebola for which no approved vaccine currently exists.

 The move comes as Kenya remains on high alert because of the ongoing outbreaks in Uganda and DRC.

 Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the country has not recorded any Ebola cases despite the regional threat.

 Duale said the Ministry of Health activated the national Ebola Incident Management System on May 20 and has intensified preparedness activities across the country.

 "Experience from previous outbreaks in Africa has shown that countries that prepare early are better able to protect lives, safeguard their health systems and minimise disruption to their economies," he said.

 According to the ministry, preparedness measures include enhanced screening of travellers arriving from affected countries through airports and land border points, strengthened disease surveillance systems, expansion of laboratory testing capacity, identification and preparation of isolation facilities, training of healthcare workers, stockpiling of protective equipment and public awareness campaigns.

 Kenya has already screened more than 140,000 travellers arriving from affected areas and investigated more than 100 Ebola alerts, all of which have tested negative.

 The CS also sought to reassure Kenyans about the establishment of quarantine and isolation facilities.

 "Just as a country prepares fire engines before a fire occurs, public health authorities must prepare isolation and quarantine facilities before an outbreak occurs," he said.

 Duale stressed that preparing for an outbreak is far less costly than dealing with one after it has spread.

 "Previous Ebola outbreaks in Africa resulted in billions of dollars in economic losses due to disruptions in travel, trade, tourism and investment. Early preparedness helps protect lives, livelihoods and the economy."

 The new initiative by Unicef and Gavi seeks to accelerate the development and production of vaccines against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.

 The two organisations announced the launch of a Request for Expression of Interest, which will gather information from vaccine developers and manufacturers on their plans to develop vaccines against the disease.

 "Building on Gavi's recent commitment of US$40 million to support accelerated vaccine access, this EOI will help inform how that financing can best support manufacturing scale-up and rapid access to doses if and when they become available," Unicef and Gavi said in a joint statement.

 The organisations said the Expression of Interest will help identify the most promising vaccine candidates and determine how best to support their production.

 "The Expression of Interest, issued by Unicef today, builds on ongoing engagement with manufacturers and partners including WHO and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and will support an expedited assessment and prioritisation of the most promising vaccine candidates," the statement said.

 The Bundibugyo strain is responsible for the current outbreaks in eastern DRC and Uganda.

 At least 1,094 cases of Ebola have been confirmed and 277 deaths in eastern DRC. The organisations said some of the victims are children.

 The organisations noted that while a global stockpile exists for vaccines against the Ebola Zaire strain, there is currently no vaccine available against the Bundibugyo species.

 Gavi has committed up to $50 million through its First Response Fund to support outbreak response efforts, including up to $40 million to accelerate vaccine access.

 The Expression of Interest will also give special consideration to manufacturers planning to produce vaccines in Africa.

 "In the call to developers and manufacturers to provide information about their candidate vaccines, including projected development timelines, product suitability, and alignment with public health priorities, special consideration will be given to proposals where production will be based in Africa," the statement said.

 "Manufacturer responses will also inform future UNICEF procurement of vaccines."

 Health experts say a successful vaccine could provide a critical tool for Kenya and other East African countries to contain future Ebola outbreaks quickly, protect health workers and save lives.