We are pleased to share the first public output of the Living Systematic Review (LSR) on Ebola vaccines, now available as an interactive dashboard through Safe in Pregnancy.
The dashboard provides a detailed view of the current Ebola vaccine evidence landscape, including the populations represented in clinical studies, important evidence gaps, and the methodology behind the review.
Why this matters now
The need for timely and reliable evidence on Ebola vaccines has become increasingly urgent. Following the World Health Organization’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern for Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda on May 17, 2026, questions about vaccine preparedness have come sharply into focus.
The LSR searched six databases, resulting in 3,515 records screened, 779 reports assessed at full text, and 297 studies included. To date, 88 clinical studies have been characterized in detail.
Notably, none of the clinical studies identified specifically evaluates a vaccine targeting BDBV, and there is currently no licensed vaccine for this Ebola species. Ring vaccination efforts are proceeding with a Zaire ebolavirus vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vaccine based on presumed cross-protection, but human evidence supporting protection against BDBV remains limited. Early-phase clinical trials of BDBV-specific vaccines have begun.
Important evidence gaps remain
The review highlights important gaps for populations that may face vaccination decisions during outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
Among the 88 clinical studies characterized to date, only seven included pregnant women, spanning three vaccine products and four countries. A total of 4,762 vaccinated pregnant women were identified, primarily through outbreak response activities. This represents less than 1% of the 573,413 vaccinated participants captured across studies to date.
Children and adolescents were represented in 24 clinical studies, accounting for 205,099 vaccinated participants. However, much of this evidence comes from outbreak-related ring vaccination activities rather than studies specifically designed to answer pediatric vaccine questions.
These findings underscore the limited evidence available for populations in which vaccination decisions may need to be made rapidly during an active outbreak.
Explore the evidence
This first release focuses on mapping and characterizing the Ebola vaccine evidence landscape.
Every study included in the dashboard is linked to its registered study record and lead author. The dashboard also provides PRISMA flow documentation, detailed methodology, deduplicated participant counts to prevent inflation of population estimates across multiple reports, and risk-of-bias assessments, which are currently in progress.
Outcome synthesis has not yet been completed. The team is now beginning extraction and analysis of vaccine efficacy and effectiveness, safety, and immunogenicity outcomes, with preliminary results expected soon. The LSR protocol is registered with PROSPERO.
Why a living systematic review?
During rapidly evolving outbreaks, conventional systematic reviews may become available only after critical decisions have already been made. A living systematic review is designed to continually incorporate emerging evidence, creating an evidence base that evolves alongside the research.
This approach can help inform public health policy and response while also identifying where additional research is most urgently needed. Maintaining a living evidence base requires sustained effort, collaboration, and investment—but provides a valuable tool when the evidence landscape is changing quickly.
Explore the Ebola Vaccine Dashboard:
https://safeinpregnancy.org/ebola-vaccines/
Select the “Ebola Vaccine Dashboard” tab to view the interactive resource.
This work brings together collaborators from IECS – Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria, ETESA IECS, Unidad de Estadística, Manejo de Datos y Sistemas de Información, University of Washington, Tulane University Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and SPEAC (Safety Platform for Emergency Vaccines).
