The vaccinations will start in the city of Bunia, regional authorities said. Healthcare workers are being prioritised as the vaccine is tested in the hardest-hit areas.
This is an older vaccine that was effective against an earlier Ebola variant. The current outbreak is caused by a different virus, Bundibugyo, and its effectiveness is therefore unclear. Clinical trials are underway to develop a new vaccine.
The vaccination campaign is taking place in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu and is expected to reach 20,000 people over six to nine months.
So far, more than 7,500 cases have been confirmed in Congo-Kinshasa, including over 3,600 deaths. According to the World Health Organization, the outbreak is the worst ever in the country.
