First Nation to Introduce New Meningitis Vaccine – WHO

Nigeria has made history by being the first country to introduce a new meningitis vaccine, Men5CV, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). This move is crucial for countries like Nigeria, where multiple serogroups are prevalent, according to the WHO.

The new vaccine, Men5CV, utilizes the same technology as the successful meningitis A conjugate vaccine, MenAfriVac®, which eradicated meningococcal A epidemics in Nigeria. The funding for the vaccine and emergency vaccination activities comes from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which supports routine vaccination against meningitis in lower-income countries and funds the global meningitis vaccine stockpile.

WHO highlighted that the innovative Men5CV offers protection against the five major strains of meningococcal bacteria (A, C, W, Y, and X) in a single shot, providing broader coverage compared to the current vaccine used in Africa, which is only effective against the A strain. The new vaccine is anticipated to significantly reduce meningitis cases and contribute to global efforts to combat the disease.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the potential of the new vaccine to transform the fight against meningitis, preventing future outbreaks and saving numerous lives.

The rollout of the vaccine in Nigeria is a significant step towards the goal of eliminating meningitis by 2030, particularly in the northern states of Jigawa, Bauchi, and Yobe, which were severely impacted by meningitis outbreaks. Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate from the Nigerian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare highlighted the importance of the vaccine in halting outbreaks and working towards the elimination of meningitis in the country.

The preparation for the rollout of this new vaccine involved extensive work in training health workers and strengthening the health system.

Despite the fasting period, our populations provided invaluable support, and our community leaders, particularly the Emir of Gumel in Jigawa state, played a crucial role by personally launching the vaccination campaign. Moving forward, we will closely monitor the progress and aim to expand the immunization efforts in the coming months and years to accelerate our progress.

It is important to note that the development of this vaccine was a result of a 13-year partnership between PATH and the Serum Institute of India, with critical financing from the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Nigeria, being one of the 26 meningitis hyper-endemic countries in Africa, faced a significant increase in annual meningitis cases last year.

To address an outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C, a vaccination campaign was conducted, 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. It can be caused by various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, and is characterized by symptoms such as headache, fever, and stiff neck. Bacterial meningitis is particularly dangerous and can lead to blood poisoning and death within 24 hours if not treated promptly.