From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has taken delivery of one million doses of meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine from the Gavi-funded global stockpile, to combat the meningitis outbreak in northern Nigeria, which has already claimed over 70 lives, with more than 800 cases across 23 states.
In a statement on Friday, Gavi explained that the Men5CV vaccine approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2023 represents a significant advancement for high-risk countries in Africa’s meningitis belt, offering protection against the five major serogroups of meningococcus bacteria.
Gavi further stated that since 2024, it has supported countries in the meningitis belt in deploying Men5CV vaccines for outbreak response, switching to Men5CV for routine immunisation, and for high-risk countries to conduct preventive mass campaigns.
It said 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 combating the disease, and adding that, as at the end of 2024, the global meningococcal vaccine stockpile had been accessed 68 times by 16 countries since 2009, with over 34 million doses deployed in support of countries. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the arrival of the Men5CV vaccines is a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s response to the meningitis outbreak.
“It reflects our commitment to protecting the health and well-being of all Nigerians, especially children and young people who are most vulnerable. Through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), we have prioritised epidemic preparedness, and rapid response as part of our broader health security agenda. “We are grateful for the support of Gavi, the WHO, and UNICEF in enabling this swift deployment,” Pate said.