Authorities in Sierra Leone have initiated a nationwide rollout of a single-dose Ebola vaccine, marking the first such campaign in West Africa. This effort comes a decade after a devastating outbreak that claimed thousands of lives. The 2014 Ebola outbreak, the deadliest in history, primarily affected West Africa, with Sierra Leone suffering nearly 4,000 deaths out of the global toll of over 11,000. The country also lost 7% of its healthcare workforce during the crisis.
The nationwide vaccine campaign, a collaboration between the Sierra Leonean government, Gavi, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF, aims to vaccinate 20,000 frontline workers across the country. Health Minister Dr. Austin Demby emphasized that this initiative is an investment in the safety and well-being of the Sierra Leonean population.
During the 2014 outbreak, there was no approved vaccine available. The outbreak, which saw up to 28,000 cases, originated in Guinea before spreading to Sierra Leone and Liberia. While Guinea recorded its last case three years ago, officials remain vigilant about potential threats in endemic regions.
Residents like Hassan Kamara, who lost nine relatives to Ebola in 2014, welcomed the vaccination campaign. Kamara vividly recalls the harrowing experience of witnessing his loved ones succumb to the disease, leaving only him and his baby daughter as survivors.
Health workers, who bore the brunt of the outbreak in 2014, expressed relief at the prospect of protection offered by the vaccine. Collins Thomas, a community health worker in Freetown, recounted the loss of many colleagues during the crisis and highlighted the significance of the vaccine in safeguarding frontline workers.
Gavi's chief executive, Dr. Sania Nishtar, lauded the organization's support for equitable vaccine access, noting the pivotal role vaccines play in saving lives and safeguarding communities. The launch of the nationwide vaccination campaign in Sierra Leone, the country most severely impacted by the 2014 outbreak, marks a historic milestone in the fight against Ebola.
