The vaccination was launched in Kambia District, a primary international point of entry by road crossing, and of significant economic and commercial importance for Guinea and Sierra Leone. This preventive Ebola vaccination will continue over the coming days in eight other districts sharing borders with Guinea.
No case of the Ebola virus disease has been confirmed in Sierra Leone since the end of the 2014-2016 outbreak. However, health authorities in the country are ensuring that frontline health workers in health facilities where people who may be infected with Ebola would first present themselves for care are protected against the disease. Traditional healers, widely believed by community members to be imbued with healing powers and commercial motor bike riders who normally provide transportation services along the border districts and regional hospitals will also be vaccinated against Ebola to ensure their protection.
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation is leading the exercise to administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccines with technical, logistical and operational support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on compassionate grounds. The vaccines were donated to Sierra Leone in April 2021 through the partnership between the World Health Organization and the vaccine manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.
