Sierra Leone has begun a nationwide rollout of the Ebola vaccine, a decade after the 2014-2016 West African outbreak devastated the country and its neighbours, the Associated Press reports.

The outbreak, the largest in history, killed thousands of Sierra Leoneans, overwhelmed the health system, and left lasting economic and social scars. The country was declared Ebola-free only after multiple resurgences, and the memory of the epidemic continues to shape public-health policy.

Health officials say the nationwide deployment — moving beyond the ring-vaccination approaches used in previous responses — is a cornerstone of pandemic preparedness, ensuring frontline health workers and at-risk communities are protected before any future outbreak, not after one has already begun.

The rollout draws on the surveillance and rapid-response infrastructure built during the epidemic and strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic. International partners, including global vaccine alliances, are supporting cold-chain capacity and community mobilisation.

Public-health experts note that community trust will be decisive. During the 2014 outbreak, misinformation and distrust of health workers significantly hampered containment. This time, authorities are working with traditional leaders, imams and community health clubs to carry the message that prevention is faster and cheaper than response.

Source: Associated Press.