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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ebola vaccination began in Ntoroko district.
The vaccination, which began on Wednesday, is being conducted in Rwanyara, Musandama, Ntoroko III Health Center, Bweramule II Health Center and Karugutu IV Health Center.
Immunization is a response to the Ebola outbreak in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC, which has affected 755 people since its first report in August this year.
According to Ministry of Health spokesman Emmanuel Ainebyoona, immunization currently targets only health workers.
He added that they had started with Ntoroko because it is one of the five districts most at risk of contracting the virus because of its proximity to the DRC. The other districts where vaccination will take place are Kasese, Bunyangabu, Kabarole and Bundibugyo.
Dr. Bernard Opar, head of the immunization team, declined to comment on the details of the vaccination.
However, a member of the Karugutu Health Center Vaccination Working Group, who preferred anonymity, said more than 40 health workers had been vaccinated in the health facility.
"All health workers have been vaccinated because they are the first people to come in contact with any patient suspected of having Ebola," the source said.
The RVSV-ZEBOV vaccine is the first highly effective Ebola vaccine since the first outbreak of the disease more than 40 years ago. It was developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada in 2003 until Merck authorized it.
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