FDA approves an Ebola vaccine for the first time

The Food and Drug Administration late yesterday issued a landmark approval for an Ebola vaccine, the first vaccine for the deadly disease approved in the United States. The vaccine, developed by Merck, protects against Zaire ebolaviruses, the species of the virus that has been the most common cause of Ebola outbreaks. It will likely be stockpiled by the United States as a hedge against a possible bioterrorism attack. But it is also expected to make up a substantial portion of an emergency stockpile for outbreaks being put together by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for use in outbreaks. The vaccine was approved in November by the European Commission.