MONROVIA, February 3(LINA) - Assistant Health Minister for Preventive Services, Tolbert Nyenswah, has said the government is pleased with the number of people who turned out Monday to participate in the first human trials of two potential Ebola vaccines.  

 
The vaccines, the ChAd3-ZEBOV, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, a British pharmaceutical company, and the rVSV-ZEBOV, manufactured by Merck/NewLink in Canada, were recognized by the WHO panel at the most advanced stage of development.
 
“I think the first day of the trial went very well. We were able to explain to the Liberian people the benefits of the trial, that the trial vaccines cannot give you Ebola.  It is intended to provide lasting solutions,” he said.
 
Speaking in an interview with the Voice of America (VOA) Africa Service Tuesday, Nyenswah said if the vaccines are effective, Liberia will make history by being the first country to help find a lasting solution to the deadly virus.
 
He said Liberians were also made to understand that if the vaccines were effective their country will have made a significant contribution to the world.
 
Nyenswah said the government understands the fears and suspicion of some Liberians about the vaccines but he said government was able to dispel rumors by providing accurate information to its citizens.
 
He said some Liberians who volunteered to take the vaccine helped inform the public by going on radio to give testimonials, helping to erase fears.
 
Nyenswah said the government hopes to inoculate 600 people around Monrovia and an additional 27,000 around the country.
 
He added that Liberia right now is reporting less than one new case per week, as compared to the first week in November 2014 where the country was reporting 12 cases per day.
 
“This decline may cause us to move into other countries where transmission is still taking place to get the number that is needed to reach a conclusion on the trial,” Nyenswah said.
LINA