WHO Technical Advisory Group on candidate vaccine prioritization: meeting report, 19 and 25 May 2026

Overview

This meeting report summarizes the deliberations and recommendations of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Candidate Vaccine Prioritization (TAG-CVP) regarding candidate vaccines for the rapidly evolving outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) caused by Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

Convened following the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in May 2026, the TAG-CVP reviewed the epidemiological situation, the characteristics of available and pipeline vaccine candidates, and options for evaluating vaccines in outbreak settings. The report describes evidence presented on BDBV-specific vaccine candidates under development by IAVI and the University of Oxford, as well as data on potential cross-protection from existing Ebola virus vaccines.

The document outlines the criteria used by the TAG-CVP to assess candidate vaccines, including safety, potential efficacy, availability and implementation considerations. It summarizes available preclinical and clinical evidence for recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus and ChAdOx1 vaccine platforms, including challenge studies in non-human primates and immunogenicity findings.

The report presents consensus recommendations concerning the prioritization of homologous BDBV-specific vaccines and possible pre- and post-exposure study strategies.