Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 4th August 2015
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Ebola vaccine trial 100 per cent effective
Ebola
Results published in The Lancet show that the vaccine had a 100 per cent success rate when it was given immediately.

Experts say results are 'remarkable'

Early results of a trial investigating the effects of an ebola vaccine have shown a 100 per cent success rate, according to the World Health Organisation.

The trial vaccine was given to thousands of people living in affected communities in Guinea who had been in close proximity of individuals with the infection - a method called 'ring vaccination'. Half were given the vaccine immediately, while the other half were given the vaccine after a wait of three weeks.

Results published in The Lancet show that the vaccine had a 100 per cent success rate when it was given immediately. None of the participants showed any symptoms of ebola up to 10 days after being the vaccine immediately after exposure. In  those in the delayed vaccination group, 16 participants developed symptoms.

The World Health Organisation say that while the vaccine up to now shows 100 per cent efficacy in individuals, more conclusive evidence is needed on its ability to protect populations through what is called 'herd immunity'. For this reason the Guinean national regulatory authority and ethics review committee have approved continuation of the trial.

Commenting on the results, Dr Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organisation said: "This is an extremely promising development.  The credit goes to the Guinean Government, the people living in the communities and our partners in this project.  An effective vaccine will be another very important tool for both current and future Ebola outbreaks."

Dr Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, one of the funders of the trial, added that it was 'a remarkable result' and was the product of international collaboration.

The trial is now set to include 12-17-year-olds and possibly 6-12-year-old children on the basis of new evidence of the vaccine's safety.  A trial of the same vaccine will also be conducted on frontline workers.

Image (C) CDC Global

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

VMD invites students to apply for EMS placement

News Story 1
 The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is inviting applications from veterinary students to attend a one-week extramural studies (EMS) placement in July 2026.

Students in their clinical years of study have until 28 February to apply for the placement, which takes place at the VMD's offices in Addlestone, Surrey, from 6-10 July 2026.

Through a mixture of lectures and workshops, the placement will explore how veterinary medicines are authorised, non-clinical career opportunities, and other important aspects of the VMD's work.  

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Survey seeks ruminant sector views on antimicrobial stewardship

A new survey is seeking views of people working in the UK ruminant sector on how to tackle the challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship.

Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk