In a decisive move to stem the ongoing meningitis outbreak in Northern Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health has received over one million doses of the WHO-approved pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV) from the Gavi-funded global stockpile.
The shipment, coordinated through the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision and delivered by UNICEF, is the first of several batches to arrive following Nigeria’s urgent request in March. The outbreak has so far affected over 800 people across 23 states, claiming more than 70 lives.
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Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, described the vaccine arrival as a critical intervention under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This is a crucial milestone in our national response to the current meningitis outbreak. It underscores our resolve to protect the health and well-being of all Nigerians, especially our young people,” Dr. Pate said. “Through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, we’ve prioritized epidemic preparedness and rapid response. We are grateful to Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF for enabling this swift deployment.”
The vaccination campaign will target individuals aged 1 to 29 the most affected demographic beginning in Kebbi and Sokoto States. Plans are also underway to extend the response to Yobe State as more doses become available.
Gavi’s Head of High-Impact Outbreaks, Dr. Francisco Luquero, emphasized the importance of the Men5CV in the global fight against meningitis.
“Vaccines helped eliminate meningitis A from Africa’s meningitis belt. Now, with Men5CV, we’re expanding protection against five major serogroups. Continued investment in this effort is essential to eliminate meningitis by 2030,” Luquero said.
The Men5CV vaccine, approved by WHO in 2023, protects against serogroups A, C, W, Y, and X of the meningococcus bacteria making it a breakthrough tool for countries in the meningitis belt, which stretches across 26 African nations and affects an estimated 500 million people.
Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, affirmed UNICEF’s support for the campaign: “Every child deserves protection from deadly diseases like meningitis. UNICEF is proud to work with the government and partners to ensure rapid vaccine deployment, community engagement, and sustained immunization efforts.”
Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Representative in Nigeria, added that the vaccine not only supports outbreak control but contributes to long-term national health security.
“This collaborative effort marks a significant step toward preventing future outbreaks and protecting future generations,” Dr. Mulombo stated.
Since 2009, the global meningococcal vaccine stockpile funded by Gavi has been accessed 68 times by 16 countries, with over 34 million doses deployed. Gavi has also helped immunize nearly 400 million children and young adults in Africa against meningitis A, with no new cases reported since 2017.
In March 2024, Nigeria became the first country to receive Men5CV from the global stockpile, signaling a new chapter in outbreak response and routine immunization. With support from Gavi and other partners, Nigeria is preparing to transition to Men5CV for routine use by the end of 2025, reducing reliance on emergency campaigns.
