The W.H.O. also wants to shift to immunizing as many people in each target area as possible, instead of relying solely on its current tactic: “ring vaccinating” the immediate contacts of each known case, along with health care workers.

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Before such a change is made, the Congolese government must accept the recommendations made Tuesday by a W.H.O. panel of experts. Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe, who heads Congo’s ethical review board, welcomed the recommendations and said he would work to see them implemented quickly.

Demand for the vaccine is increasing in the affected districts of eastern Congo, Dr. Muyembe said.

There have been contradictory reports from the area about acceptance of the vaccine. Some observers said villagers and even health workers were rejecting the vaccine.

Others said villagers were angry that the vaccine was given only to contacts of victims when everyone was afraid of the infection.

According to the W.H.O., more than 111,000 people have been vaccinated against Ebola since the outbreak began in August. To stretch supplies of the vaccine, made by Merck and known as rVSV-ZEBOV, the agency recommended switching to smaller doses.