Ebola vaccination campaign launched in Sierra Leone to protect 20,000 health workers

Sierra Leone has rolled out a nationwide Ebola vaccination campaign to immunize 20,000 frontline workers, including healthcare staff, traditional healers, and community health personnel.

The initiative aims to safeguard those most at risk while enhancing the country’s preparedness for potential future outbreaks.

The campaign, launched with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other global partners, will focus on 16 districts across the country. Target groups include healthcare workers, laboratory technicians, motorcycle taxi drivers, and security forces expected to play critical roles during outbreak responses.

Sierra Leone was one of the hardest-hit nations during the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic, which claimed nearly 4,000 lives, including hundreds of health workers. Using the ERVEBO vaccine, which has been proven to offer nearly 100% protection against the Ebola virus and administered to over 500,000 people worldwide, the campaign seeks to prevent similar devastation.

“This vaccination drive is a significant step in protecting healthcare workers who are often at the forefront of epidemics. By immunizing them, we can prevent rapid transmission and ensure outbreaks are contained,” stated Dr. George Ameh, WHO Representative in Sierra Leone.

The vaccination campaign is being supported with technical expertise, logistics, and monitoring systems provided by WHO, UNICEF, and other partners. In addition, Sierra Leone’s health authorities have strengthened mechanisms to ensure vaccines can be quickly deployed to the general public if a new outbreak occurs.

Having learned hard lessons from the past, Sierra Leone has made strides in reinforcing its health systems and epidemic response strategies. This campaign marks a renewed commitment to building resilience against Ebola and minimizing risks to frontline workers and the broader population.

A global stockpile of Ebola vaccines managed by the International Coordinating Group ensures that Sierra Leone and other vulnerable nations can respond swiftly to emerging cases, further fortifying global health security.