Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has announced a $50 million commitment to combat the ongoing Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak. The funding will be used to accelerate access to vaccines against the current strain, with up to $40 million allocated for vaccine development and access, and $10 million for outbreak response efforts.
The alliance will work closely with CEPI and partners to design incentives for manufacturers to produce vaccines at scale, including potential Advance Purchase Commitments. The funding will also support national outbreak response plans, including measures to protect routine immunisation services and safeguard healthcare workers.
At present, no vaccine is licensed against Ebola Bundibugyo, but several candidates are in development, including the single-dose rVSV Bundibugyo vaccine and the ChAdOx1 Bundibugyo vaccine. The World Health Organization has reviewed the potential role of Ervebo, a licensed Ebola vaccine, but it is not licensed for Bundibugyo disease.
