Ebola Vaccine Trials in West Africa Slated This Month, According to WHO [News Update] Jan. 2015

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The worst-hit countries by Ebola will soon have their first-hand trial of two of the Ebola vaccines early this year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

These two vaccines which showed "promise" are the ones produced by GlaxoSmithKline and by the collaboration between NewLink Genetics and Merck.  These have also gone through safety trials in the US, UK and other countries.

Having an "acceptable safety profile", as said by the WHO, the two vaccines are ready to be tested on the frontline--first, in Liberia by the end of January, and then by Sierra Leone and Guinea on the first half of February.

"The world is waiting for us to get Ebola vaccines ready and out to the people that need them in their communities," said Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny, assistant director general of the WHO.

While it is still unclear for how long or how much protection against Ebola could the vaccines provide, the human trial will include healthcare workers and thousands of people in West Africa.

"We all want the momentum and sense of urgency to continue," according to WHO director-general Margaret Chan. "Too many health care workers are still getting infected, including nationals and doctors and nurses from foreign medical teams."

If effective though, the shots will be available for deployment in a few months thereafter.

The formulation of the most advanced vaccines is aimed to fight a disease that has killed more than 8,000 people in the previous year, and continues to do so specifically in the West African trio.

The WHO remains hopeful and optimistic with the vaccines. "2015 will be remembered as the year humanity used our best scientific minds to fight back," Kieny said.

Some 90 experts from vaccine manufacturers, regulatory agencies and health ministries recently met at the WHO headquarters to review data from initial safety trials. They also finalized the plans for pivotal Phase III clinical trials in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.