The vaccines were aimed at the Zaire strain of the virus, not the Sudan strain of Ebola that recently sparked an outbreak of deadly hemorrhagic fever in Uganda.
Antibody levels remained present in both children and adults for one year, according to studies conducted in West Africa.
“I think the study shows that both vaccines elicit good antibody responses, and also that a boost of (Merck’s) VSV probably doesn’t add much in the long run,” said one of the researchers, Dr. H. Clifford Lane.
Only Merck’s vaccine can potentially be given as a single dose, while J&J’s may need to continue as a two-dose regimen, Lane added.
However, the researchers cautioned that they were unable to assess protection against the disease as no participants contracted Ebola during the trial, which began enrollment in 2017.
“Participants in this trial are being followed long-term to determine if and when booster doses might be needed,” said Brian Greenwood, study co-author from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
One regimen involved a dose of the J&J vaccine, followed by a booster of the Bavarian Nordic vaccine, another regimen involved two doses of the Merck vaccine eight weeks apart, and the third consisted of a placebo eight weeks after the vaccine. Merck’s vaccine.
The trials were conducted in a total of 1,400 adults and 1,401 children aged 1-17 years, in collaboration with the Liberian Ministry of Health and the Mali University Center for Clinical Research and Vaccine Development Center.
Merck’s Ervebo vaccine was approved by the European regulator and prequalified by the World Health Organization in 2019, and J&J’s Zabdeno obtained European and WHO authorizations later.
Uganda said earlier this month that it had discharged its latest Ebola patient, raising hopes that an outbreak that has killed at least 56 people will end. (Reporting by Nandhini Srinivasan and Leroy Leo in Bengaluru; Editing in Spanish by Javier Leira)
Source: Ambito
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
