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Ebola Vaccine

By

Margot L. Savoy

, MD, MPH, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Reviewed/Revised Oct 2022
View Patient Education

rVSV-ZEBOV is the only vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for prevention of Ebola virus disease Marburg and Ebola Virus Infections Marburg and Ebola are filoviruses that cause hemorrhage, multiple organ failure, and high mortality rates. Diagnosis is with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)... read more . Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo is a combination of two vaccines, Ad26.ZEBOV and MVA-BN-Filo, and has received Marketing Authorization by the European Commission (EC). The International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision has established a global Ebola vaccine stockpile in Switzerland for use during outbreaks.

Preparations

rVSV-ZEBOV is a live-attenuated recombinant viral vaccine. It provides protection against the Zaire ebolavirus species and does not protect against other species of Ebola virus or Marburg virus.

Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo is a combination of two vaccine vectors that are genetically modified so that they cannot replicate in human cells. These vector vaccines carry the genetic code of several Ebola virus proteins to trigger an immune response:

  • Ad26.ZEBOV is a recombinant DNA vaccine based on adenovirus type 26 (Ad26).

  • MVA-BN-Filo is a recombinant DNA vaccine based on modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA).

Indications

rVSV-ZEBOV is indicated for the prevention of Ebola virus disease caused by Zaire ebolavirus species in people 18 years of age and older. The ACIP recommends preexposure vaccination with rVSV-ZEBOV for adults aged 18 years of age and older in the US who are at high risk of occupational exposure to Ebola because they are doing the following:

  • Responding to an outbreak of Ebola virus disease

  • Working as health care personnel at federally designated Ebola treatment centers in the US

  • Working as laboratory personnel or as other staff at biosafety level 4 facilities in the US

  • Working as laboratory personnel or support staff members at Laboratory Response Network facilities

Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo is indicated for the prevention of Ebola virus disease caused by the Zaire ebolavirus species in people aged 1 year of age and older.

Contraindications and Precautions

The main contraindication for all three Ebola vaccines is

Precautions for all 3 Ebola vaccines are

  • Anaphylaxis

  • Thrombocytopenia or any coagulation disorder

Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis is an acute, potentially life-threatening, IgE-mediated allergic reaction that occurs in previously sensitized people when they are reexposed to the sensitizing antigen. Symptoms... read more has occurred after administration of these vaccines. After vaccination, people should be observed for at least 15 minutes for early signs of anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid reactions. Appropriate medical treatment and supervision must be available in the event anaphylaxis occurs.

The main precaution for rVSV-ZEBOV is

  • Immunocompromise

The safety and effectiveness of rVSV-ZEBOV have not been assessed in immunocompromised people. The effectiveness of this vaccine may be diminished in immunocompromised people. The risk of vaccination with rVSV-ZEBOV, a live-virus vaccine, in immunocompromised people should be weighed against the risk of disease due to Zaire ebolavirus.

Precautions for Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo are

  • Immunocompromise

  • Acute severe febrile illness or acute infection

The safety and immunogenicity of the Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo vaccine regimen have not been assessed in immunocompromised people, including those receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Immunocompromised people may not respond as well as immunocompetent people to the vaccine regimen.

Vaccination with Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo should be postponed in people who have an acute severe febrile illness or acute infection, unless the benefit of immediate vaccination outweighs the potential risks. The presence of a minor infection, a low-grade fever, or both should not delay vaccination.

Dose and Administration

The rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine dose is 1.0 mL IM.

The Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo vaccine dose is 0.5 mL IM, given in a 2-dose series:

  • Ad26.ZEBOV (red cap vial) is given first.

  • MVA-BN-Filo (yellow cap vial) is given 8 weeks later.

Adverse Effects

For all 3 vaccines, the most common adverse effects are injection site pain and swelling, myalgias, arthralgias, headache, and fatigue.

For rVSV-ZEBOV, other common adverse effects are injection site redness, feverishness, nausea, arthritis, rash, and abnormal sweating.

For Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo, other common adverse effects include injection site warmth and chills. In children 1 to 17 years of age, the most common adverse effects reported are

  • Injection site pain

  • Fatigue

  • Decreased activity

  • Decreased appetite

  • Irritability

More Information

The following English-language resource may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of this resource.

View Patient Education
NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: View Consumer Version
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