Sierra Leone: National Ebola vaccination campaign launched

Ten years after being hit hard by the largest Ebola outbreak, Sierra Leone launched a massive vaccination campaign on Thursday to protect populations most exposed to the virus. In partnership with international organizations, this initiative marks a turning point in the prevention of a disease that has caused thousands of deaths in the country.

Objective: Protect the most vulnerable groups

The first of the three nations most affected by the 2014-2016 epidemic (alongside Guinea and Liberia) to roll out a national vaccination campaign, Sierra Leone is targeting 20,000 people on the front lines :

• Health professionals ,
• Traditional healers ,
• Religious leaders ,
• Security forces .

These people will receive a single dose of the Ervebo vaccine . The campaign, overseen by the Ministry of Health, began on Thursday at health centres and police stations in the capital Freetown , with a goal of vaccinating at least 50 people per day at each vaccination point.

A vaccine that brings hope

Josephine Abdulai, a 40-year-old health worker, expressed her satisfaction after being vaccinated:

“The Ebola vaccine is a blessing for us. I lost five members of my family in 2014. If this vaccine had been available then, their lives could have been saved.”

Between 2014 and 2016 , the epidemic killed around 4,000 people in Sierra Leone , including almost 7% of health workers , a heavy toll that has left its mark.

A national effort for sustainable prevention

With the support of partners such as WHO , UNICEF and the Gavi vaccine alliance , the campaign will take place in all 16 districts of the country. The authorities also hope to overcome the hesitation of some populations who are still wary, although the trauma of the past epidemic remains present.

A risk that is still latent

Although no cases of Ebola have been reported in Sierra Leone since 2016 , an outbreak in neighboring Guinea in 2021 highlighted the urgent need for increased vigilance in the region.

Ebola, a rare but often fatal disease, is spread through contact with infected animals or sick or dead people. Symptoms include sudden fever, headache, vomiting and bleeding. The average case fatality rate is about 50% , but it can be as high as 90% in some outbreaks, according to the WHO.

A step towards better health resilience

This vaccination campaign marks a significant effort to strengthen Sierra Leone’s capacity to prevent and contain future outbreaks, building on the painful experience of the past and current medical advances.