A study aiming to document the voluntary vaccination of 20,000 frontline workers has been launched in Ituri and Nord-Kivu in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Medecins Sans Frontieres. The study, called "BRAVO", seeks to assess the use and potential efficacy of the ERVEBO vaccine under real-world conditions during an outbreak. The initiative is a collaborative effort with the Ministry in charge of Health, Africa CDC, and several scientific partners.
The study, launched on September 19th, 2026, in Bunia, will run for six months, with three months devoted to vaccination. Participation and vaccine administration are entirely voluntary. According to Dr. Guyguy Manangama, an epidemiologist and deputy director of operations at MSF, the study aims to document the use and potential efficacy of the ERVEBO vaccine among frontline staff under real-world conditions during an outbreak.
The ERVEBO vaccine is being offered as part of this study as a transitional measure to strengthen protection for staff particularly exposed to the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak. Several vaccines specifically developed against the Bundibugyo virus are still in development and could become available in the coming months. The study comes at a time when the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak continues to affect several health zones in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the DRC has prompted MSF to implement this study to protect frontline workers. The organisation emphasises that the vaccination should be regarded as a complementary protective measure that may strengthen the response to the outbreak, but it is by no means a substitute for proven infection prevention and control measures.
The study targets frontline workers who are particularly at risk of contracting Bundibugyo virus disease. These workers are crucial in the response to the outbreak, and their protection is essential to preventing further spread of the disease. By documenting the use and efficacy of the ERVEBO vaccine, MSF aims to inform future vaccination strategies and improve the response to outbreaks.
The collaboration between MSF, the Ministry in charge of Health, Africa CDC, and several scientific partners is critical to the success of the study. The partners bring expertise and resources to the initiative, ensuring that the study is conducted rigorously and provides valuable insights into the use of the ERVEBO vaccine.
The launch of the BRAVO study is a significant step in the response to the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the DRC. The study will provide valuable data on the use and efficacy of the ERVEBO vaccine, which could inform future vaccination strategies and improve the response to outbreaks. The findings of the study are expected to be available after its completion in six months.
Key points
- Medecins Sans Frontieres has launched a study to document the voluntary vaccination of 20,000 frontline workers in the DRC's Ituri and Nord-Kivu regions.
- The study aims to assess the use and potential efficacy of the ERVEBO vaccine under real-world conditions during an outbreak.
- The study is a collaborative effort with the Ministry in charge of Health, Africa CDC, and several scientific partners.
