FDA Approves First Ebola Vaccine

The FDA approved Merck’s Ervebo Ebola vaccine, the first vaccine given the go-ahead for protection against the deadly virus in patients 18 and older.

Ervebo only protects against the Zaire ebolavirus strain and the effectiveness and duration of protection is not currently known.

Merck anticipates that the vaccine will be available in the third quarter of 2020. The company is working with the WHO, UNICEF, the U.S. and Gavi, an international vaccine alliance, to create a plan for public health preparedness and response efforts.