Nigeria bolsters Meningitis fight with new Vaccine rollout

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has received over one million doses of pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV) from the Gavi-funded global stockpile, to combat the meningococcus C and W outbreak in northern Nigeria.

The vaccines, approved for deployment by the International Coordinating Group, is aimed at containing the fast-spreading outbreak of meningitis C and W which had already claimed over 70 lives with more than 800 cases across 23 states.

The Coordinating Minister, Professor Ali Pate said the first shipment of the vaccines would enable the launch of an outbreak response campaign targeting individuals aged 1–29 years, which are also the most severely affected group.

“The campaign will initially launch in Kebbi and Sokoto States, with plans to expand to Yobe State as additional doses arrive in the country.”

The new Men5CV vaccine supported by Gavi, UNICEF, and the WHO, offers protection against five strains of meningitis, a leap forward from earlier versions. The first shipment to Nigeria is expected to bolster immediate response efforts, with additional doses on the way to extend the campaign to more high-risk areas like Yobe State.”

According to the Minister, the deployment was a crucial milestone in the country’s response, and they are not only tackling the current outbreak but also building stronger immunisation systems for future generations.

Meningitis remains a grave threat in Africa’s “meningitis belt,” affecting millions each dry season. But with global partnerships and innovative vaccines, Nigeria is turning the tide

The World Health Organisation, WHO, Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, explained that the arrival of the MenCV5 vaccine provided the much-needed boost to its response efforts to support Nigeria to continue to combat the current meningitis outbreak.

“From research and development to delivery, the journey of the MenCV5 vaccine to Nigeria has been a collaborative effort between the Nigerian government, the WHO, Gavi, and other dedicated partners. While we address the ongoing outbreak, the MenCV5 vaccine is also critical to Nigeria’s long-term health security. It will help prevent future outbreaks and safeguard future generations; we are committed to supporting Nigeria at every step.”

In March 2024, Nigeria became the first country to receive the Men5CV vaccine from the global stockpile for its outbreak containment efforts, marking a significant milestone in combat this disease.

Meningococcal meningitis is an infection of the meninges, which is the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord and it is most prevalent in Africa’s ‘meningitis belt’, which stretches across 26 countries in Africa with an at-risk population of about 500 million.

Epidemics are common during the dry season which runs from December to June while its peak period is usually between March and April when low humidity and high dust levels prevail and a wave can last two to three years.

Ifeoma Nwovu