Ervebo

Ervebo is a brand name for the recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus–based vaccine rVSV-ZEBOV, developed to prevent Ebola virus disease caused by the Zaire ebolavirus. It uses a modified vesicular stomatitis virus as a vector that expresses the surface glycoprotein of Ebola virus to elicit an immune response. The vaccine is intended for use in adults 18 years and older.

Ervebo is administered as a single intramuscular injection. It is designed to provide rapid protection after vaccination, which has been demonstrated in outbreak settings as part of ring vaccination strategies. In a Guinea ring vaccination trial conducted during the West Africa Ebola outbreak, the vaccine showed very high efficacy, with estimates approaching 100% against symptomatic Ebola virus disease in those vaccinated.

Common adverse events are typically mild to moderate and include injection-site pain, fatigue, muscle pain, fever, headache, and chills. Serious adverse events are rare. The vaccine is contraindicated in individuals with a known severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine. Because it is a live-attenuated vaccine, it is used with caution in pregnant or breastfeeding persons and in immunocompromised individuals.

Storage requires strict cold-chain handling, with ultra-cold temperatures around -60°C to -80°C; after thawing, the product must be stored and used according to established guidelines.

Regulatory status includes approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019 for adults 18 and older, with subsequent regulatory actions in other regions and inclusion in international emergency-use listings to support outbreak responses.