AYV News, December 9, 2024
Following the launch of the Ebola Preventive Vaccination Campaign for health workers by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the vaccination process commenced as scheduled from November 5th to 15th, 2024.
Ten years after the devastating Ebola outbreak, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, through the Expanded Programme on Immunization, has rolled out the WHO pre-qualified Ebola vaccine to protect frontline workers most at risk during outbreaks.
The campaign aims to vaccinate 20,000 frontline workers, including healthcare professionals, police, military personnel, psychosocial workers, bike riders, and traditional healers, across all 16 districts.
Although there is no immediate risk of an outbreak, the Ministry is conducting this campaign as a preventive measure to safeguard the health of frontline workers across the country.
The Ministry has encouraged frontline workers to participate and reassured the public that the vaccines are provided by the WHO, approved by the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, and have been tested in several countries worldwide.
Implemented in partnership with Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF, this initiative positions Sierra Leone as the first of the hardest-hit nations to launch a nationwide preventive Ebola vaccination campaign— a significant milestone for health security and resilience.