Nigeria has taken a lead as the first country worldwide to introduce a new meningitis vaccine, Men5CV, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to WHO, this development is particularly significant for nations like Nigeria, where multiple meningitis serogroups are prevalent. The new vaccine employs the same technology as the meningitis A conjugate vaccine (MenAfriVac®), which successfully eradicated meningococcal A epidemics in Nigeria.
Funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the vaccine and accompanying emergency vaccination initiatives support lower-income countries by providing routine vaccination against meningitis and maintaining the global meningitis vaccine stockpile.
WHO stated that this innovative vaccine offers robust protection against the five major strains of meningococcal bacteria (A, C, W, Y, and X) in a single dose. These strains are responsible for meningitis and blood poisoning, providing broader protection compared to the current vaccine used in much of Africa, which only targets the A strain.
The new vaccine’s introduction is expected to significantly reduce meningitis cases and advance efforts to eliminate the disease.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressing optimism said the meningitis is an old and deadly foe, but this new vaccine holds the potential to change the trajectory of the disease, preventing future outbreaks and saving many lives.
Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate from the Nigerian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare equally emphasized the importance of the vaccine in addressing the outbreak in Northern Nigeria, particularly in Jigawa, Bauchi, and Yobe states. He acknowledged the support of health workers, communities, and leaders, such as the Emir of Gumel in Jigawa state, who launched the vaccination campaign.
The new vaccine, a result of a 13-year collaboration between PATH and the Serum Institute of India, received critical funding from the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Nigeria, located in the African Meningitis Belt, is among the 26 meningitis hyper-endemic countries in Africa. Last year, the continent reported a 50% increase in annual meningitis cases.
In response to an outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C, Nigeria launched a vaccination campaign from 25–28 March 2024, targeting over one million individuals aged 1-29 years.
Meningitis is a severe infection that causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include headache, fever, and stiff neck, with bacterial meningitis being the most serious and potentially fatal within 24 hours if untreated.
