1,000,000 pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV) from the Gavi-funded global stockpile to combat meningococcus C and W outbreak in Northern Nigeria has been delivered to the Federal Government.
The disease which is common during the dry season with its peak between December and June every year has claimed over 70 lives, with more than 800 cases in 23 states,
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Muhammad Ali – Pate said, “The arrival of the vaccines is crucial in Nigeria’s response to the current meningitis outbreak “.
“It reflects our commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to protect the health and well-being of all Nigerians, especially our children and young people who are most vulnerable”.
He said, through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach, the ministry had prioritized epidemic preparedness and rapid response in a broader health security agenda.
“We are grateful for the support of Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF in enabling this swift deployment”. “Together, we are not only containing today’s outbreak but also laying the foundation to eliminate meningitis and strengthen routine immunization for the future.” Ali-Pate stated
According to him, the ICG approved the deployment of over 1.5 million doses of the vaccine in response to Nigeria’s request in March 2025 meaning that, with Gavi’s support, it is bringing the country closer to the goal of eliminating meningitis by 2030,”
The Head, High-Impact Outbreaks, GAVI Mr Francisco Luquero, stated that, “continued investment to control future outbreaks would reduce the devastating effects that seasonal epidemics of meningitis have on families and communities.
“Every child deserves protection from life-threatening diseases like meningitis, and the arrival of the Meningitis vaccine marks a critical step in stopping the current outbreak, and safeguard Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations particularly children and young adults, who are at the highest risk”. he explained
The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Country Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, says, UNICEF is proud to support the government by ensuring rapid vaccine deployment, community engagement, planning and implementation of the response alongside other relevant agencies.
WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, said, as Nigeria continues to combat the current meningitis outbreak, the arrival of the Men5 vaccine provides the much-needed boost to the response efforts.
” While we address the ongoing outbreak, the Men5 vaccine is also critical to Nigeria’s long-term health security, as it will safeguard future outbreaks and generations we are committed to supporting Nigeria all the way”. Mulombo
Experts say, ” Meningococcal meningitis is an infection of the meninges, the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord is most prevalent in Africa’s meningitis belt’, which stretches across 26 countries in Africa, from Senegal in the West to Ethiopia in the East with an at-risk population of about 500 million
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