Researchers have developed an Ebola vaccine that provides 100 percent protection against one of the two most common strains of the Ebola virus. This is according to study published in The Lancet on Thursday.
Though the vaccine (known as rVSV-ZEBOV) is yet to be approved by regulators, the New York Times reports that scientists have already created an emergency supply of 300,000 doses, should another Ebola outbreak occur.
According to the report, the trial was conducted on 11,841 Guinea residents last year. Out of the 5,837 people who received rVSV-ZEBOV, none of them contracted the virus. Scientists found that a little over half of those who received the vaccine reported “at least one adverse event in the 14 days after vaccination.” The side effects, however, were generally mild—headache, fatigue and muscle pain.
“Ebola left a devastating legacy in our country. We are proud that we have been able to contribute to developing a vaccine that will prevent other nations from enduring what we endured,” said Dr. KeÏta Sakoba, the director of the national agency for health security in Guinea.
“It’s certainly good news with regard to any new outbreak — and one will occur somewhere,” Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the New York Times. “But we still need to continue working on Ebola vaccines.”
