The first volunteer in the world, a 37-year-old UK man called Ed Hunt, has received an experimental vaccine against the Ebola virus. He was vaccinated in Oxford, where scientists developed the jab in just eight weeks, after saying he wanted to help in response to the deadly Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Hunt is the first of 50 healthy volunteers aged 18-55 being recruited for the trial.
Why did Ed Hunt decide to take part?
He said he wanted to volunteer after seeing news reports of the outbreak. Speaking to the BBC, he explained that he had previously wanted to join the Covid vaccine trial but could not because of work commitments.
“I had wanted to volunteer for the Covid vaccine trial but was unable to because of work commitments. After seeing news from DR Congo I thought I'd like to do my bit.”
What makes this Ebola vaccine different?
The vaccine uses the same technology as the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid jab, which was given to hundreds of millions of people during the pandemic. Prof Teresa Lamb, who led the Ebola vaccine team at the University of Oxford, said it could be developed so quickly because of decades of background research.
She said the vaccine cannot give anyone Ebola and that the trial is designed to test safety and immune response.
“We will not be giving anybody Ebola in this trial or any trial.
The aim of the phase one clinical study is to look for the safety of the vaccine, and also to see if we're getting a strong immune response that could be protective against the Bundibugyo species of Ebola.”
How far has the vaccine programme progressed?
There are four vaccines in development against the Bundibugyo species that has triggered the outbreak, but this is the first to enter human trials. A licensed vaccine exists for the Zaire species of Ebola, but it does not work against Bundibugyo.
The Oxford team says a second small Ebola vaccine trial is due to begin soon in Uganda, followed by a bigger study in Democratic Republic of Congo to look at efficacy. The Serum Institute in India has already manufactured 600,000 doses of the Oxford Ebola vaccine, ready to be used if the trials are successful.
How serious is the outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo?
To date there have been more than 2,500 confirmed cases of Ebola in Democratic Republic of Congo, including just over 1,000 deaths.
Key Facts
- Ed Hunt, a 37-year-old UK man, is the first volunteer worldwide to receive the experimental Ebola vaccine.
- The vaccine was developed in Oxford in eight weeks using the same technology as the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid jab.
- Hunt is the first of 50 healthy volunteers aged 18-55 taking part in the trial.
- More than 2,500 Ebola cases and just over 1,000 deaths have been confirmed in Democratic Republic of Congo.
- The Serum Institute in India has already made 600,000 doses for possible use if trials succeed.
