Health: First batch of Russian Ebola vaccine sent to Guinea

According to the health minister, the Russian vaccine has proved its effectiveness and has practically no side effects

MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. The first batch of 1,000 Ebola vaccine doses developed at the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology was sent to the Republic of Guinea on Wednesday, a TASS correspondent reported.

"The first batch of the vaccine is one thousand doses, which means that one thousand people will be vaccinated," said Alexander Semikhin, head of the Biotechnological Products Department at the Gamaleya Institute.

The vaccine is aimed at preventing the fever caused by the Ebola virus. According to Semiklhin, after the vaccination, revaccination is needed in 21 days’ time.

About vaccine

According to the Russian Health Ministry, Russia’s Gam Evac Combi is the world’s first officially registered vaccine approved for clinical use for the prevention of hemorrhagic fever caused by the Ebola virus.

The presentation of the Russian vaccines (named Gam Evac and Gam Evac Combi) to the World Health Organization (WHO) took place in Geneva on February 15.

At a meeting between Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova and WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, the two sides emphasized the importance of the Russian Ebola vaccine for the international community.

According to Skvortsova, the Russian vaccine has proved its effectiveness and has practically no side effects.

"One hundred percent of vaccinated people have a high antibody titer to the causative agent. We have been monitoring the vaccinated individuals for five months now, and this titer has remained high for five months. The blood serum of those vaccinated completely kills and neutralizes the virus in laboratory conditions," the minister explained.

Source:
tass.com