What new Ebola vaccines are being developed?

There are new vaccines that help people not get sick from Ebola, which is a very bad virus.

Think of a vaccine like a special shield that you wear before a fight. If you know there’s going to be a battle, you put on your shield so the enemy can’t hurt you. That's what these new vaccines do, they help people's bodies get ready for the Ebola virus.

How They Work

These new vaccines are like training exercises for the body’s defenders, which are called white blood cells. When someone gets a vaccine, it gives their body a little taste of the virus, but not enough to make them sick. This helps the body learn how to fight the real virus if they ever meet it.

Different Types

Some of these vaccines use parts of the Ebola virus, like its protein coat, while others use special helpers called mRNA, which is like a message telling the body what to build to fight off the virus. These different kinds work in slightly different ways, but all aim to keep people safe from getting sick with Ebola.

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Examples

  1. A child gets a shot that helps protect them from a deadly virus called Ebola.
  2. Scientists are testing a new pill that can stop the Ebola virus in its tracks.
  3. Doctors use special tools to see if a vaccine works against the Ebola virus.

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