Ebola vaccines tested large-scale in Liberia

Some 600 volunteers are set to take part in the in the first phase of testing, which started in Liberian capital Monrovia on Monday. Initially, the large-scale study is to be conducted among the people providing medical care to the Ebola patients.

As many as 27,000 might take part before the end of the testing, trial organizers have said.

The two experimental vaccines already showed promise in the smaller tests, according to medical experts, and were deemed safe for human use. However, many people in Liberia are concerned that taking part in the testing carries the risk of being infected with the Ebola virus.

Musicians to calm fears

A 43-year old physician's assistant Emmanuel Lansana, was the first to be injected on Monday, when two shots were administered at different points on his right arm. His wife had been concered about the vaccine trial, but Lansana said he still wanted to take part.

"From the counseling, all of the reservations I have were explained, my doubts were cleared," he said in a room where he was being observed for 30 minutes afterward.

On Sunday, musicians sang songs explaining the process of testing in Monrovia, in an attempt to reduce fears among the population.

The committee chair on health in the Liberian Senate, Peter Coleman, also volunteered to participate in the trial and urged healthy Liberians to do the same. "The trial requires the cooperation of all Liberians because it is aimed at containing the deadly virus that has wreaked havoc in our country," Coleman told local radio station Veritas.

Schools to stay closed

Since the beginning of the deadly epidemic, Liberia has had 8,478 reported cases of Ebola and 3,605 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The virus has killed more than 8,900 people worldwide during the past year.

Despite the progress made in combating the epidemic and the development of the vaccine, Liberia decided to postpone the reopening of schools closed due to Ebola, which was scheduled for Monday.

"Schools have yet to get health and sanitation kits, like hand-washing buckets and thermometres to test temperature," education ministry spokesman Maxim Bleetan said Monday.

"We want to ensure a safe learning environment for our children," he added.

The reopening is now scheduled for February 16, according to the authorites.

dj/rc (AP, dpa)