meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV)

The Nigerian Government, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has received over 1 million doses of the prevalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV) from the Gavi-funded global stockpile.

The shipment, which arrived on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, aims to combat the meningococcal C and W outbreak in Northern Nigeria. This first batch of vaccines will launch an outbreak response campaign targeting individuals aged 1 to 29, the most affected demographic. The campaign will initially begin in the Kebbi and Sokoto states, with plans to expand to Yobe as additional doses arrive.

Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare in his address, informed that the arrival of the Men5CV vaccines is a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s response to the meningitis outbreak. He noted that it reflects the commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to protect the health and well-being of Nigerians, especially children and most vulnerable young people. According to him, the outbreak has already claimed over 70 lives and recorded more than 800 cases across 23 states.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, funds global stockpiles of vaccines against cholera, Ebola, meningitis, and yellow fever. These stockpiles are accessible to all countries and support outbreak response campaigns in lower-income nations. The International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision approved Nigeria’s request in March 2025, allocating over 1.5 million doses of Men5CV for deployment. In his remarks, Francisco Luquero, Gavi’s Head of High-Impact Outbreaks, affirmed that with Gavi’s support, vaccines successfully eliminated meningitis A from Africa’s meningitis belt.

Meningococcal meningitis

Meningococcal meningitis, a bacterial infection of the meninges (the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord), is most prevalent in Africa’s ‘meningitis belt’—26 countries from Senegal to Ethiopia, home to an at-risk population of about 500 million. Infants, children, and young adults face the highest risk.