South Sudan set to vaccinate healthcare workers against Ebola

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of South Sudan with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), DFID, GAVI vaccine alliance and other partners, is set to vaccinate targeted healthcare and frontline workers operating in high risk states bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) against Ebola virus disease (EVD) as part of national preparedness efforts.

To facilitate the process, a training for the Vaccination team was incorporated into the micro plan developed by the vaccine technical working group (TWG). The members of the TWG among others include MoH, UNICEF, CDC, WHO, MSF, Health Cluster and others. Accordingly, a four days training for 60 participants drawn from the states of Juba, Yei, Yambio and Nimule on Good Clinical Practice (GCP) course.The vaccination team members selected by their respective State Ministry of Health included representatives from health facilities, private sector and Civil Society Organizations. Each state vaccination team comprised of 15 members including vaccinators, clinicians, social mobilizers, and logisticians.

The GCP training is mandatory prior to the administration of the vaccine. Participants were equipped with knowledge and skills on Ebola vaccine (rVSV-ZEBOV) administration including vaccination techniques, and exposed through a simulation exercise.

Through this training, the vaccination team members were GCP certified and are now ready to conduct the Ebola vaccination scheduled to start with Juba on 19 December, 2018, and follow up the vaccinated individuals for a period of 21 days as the minimum standard of care. The Ministry of Health, with technical support from the Vaccine Technical Working Group of the National EVD Task Force, the states, and NGOs operating in health care facilities in the respective States will coordinate the administration of the Ebola vaccine.