Nigeria Receives Over a Million Meningococcal Vaccines to Tackle Outbreak
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Nigeria has announced the arrival of more than one million doses of the pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV) from the Gavi-funded global stockpile, aimed at addressing the ongoing meningococcus C and W outbreak in northern Nigeria. This information was released on Friday through a joint statement by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The initial shipment of vaccine doses is set to kick off an outbreak response campaign specifically targeting the one to 29 age group, the demographic most impacted by the outbreak. The campaign will first launch in Kebbi and Sokoto states, with plans to extend to Yobe State as more doses become available.
As reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the country has seen a total of 807 suspected cases of cerebrospinal meningitis and 74 fatalities across 22 states as of March 26, 2025. The NCDC also indicated that the Case Fatality Rate stands at 9.2 percent.
Professor Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, emphasized the significance of the Men5CV vaccine’s arrival in Nigeria’s strategy to manage the ongoing meningitis outbreak. He stated, “This marks an important milestone in our efforts, reflecting our commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to safeguard the health of all Nigerians—especially our vulnerable children and youth.”
Professor Pate highlighted the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach as essential frameworks that prioritize epidemic preparedness and swift response as part of the nation’s broader health security strategy. He expressed gratitude for the assistance from Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF, which facilitated the rapid deployment, asserting that these efforts will not only help contain the current outbreak but also form the foundation for eliminating meningitis and enhancing routine immunization in the future.
Cerebrospinal meningitis, a severe infection affecting the meninges membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord remains a significant public health issue. It can be triggered by various pathogens including bacteria, fungi, or viruses, with bacterial meningitis accounting for a significant proportion of the global burden, according to WHO.
UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, stated that every child deserves protection from life-threatening diseases like meningitis, underlining that the arrival of the vaccine represents a vital step towards halting the current outbreak and safeguarding vulnerable populations. “UNICEF is committed to supporting the government in ensuring rapid vaccine deployment, community outreach, and the effective planning and execution of the response in collaboration with Gavi, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare to bolster immunization efforts in Nigeria,” Munduate said.
Dr. Walter Mulombo, WHO’s Country Representative in Nigeria, noted that with the ongoing meningitis outbreak, the addition of the MenCV5 vaccine significantly enhances the response efforts. He remarked, “The journey of the MenCV5 vaccine to Nigeria has been a collective effort involving the Nigerian government, WHO, Gavi, and other committed partners. While we tackle the current outbreak, the MenCV5 vaccine is also paramount for Nigeria’s long-term health security, helping to prevent future outbreaks and ensuring the wellbeing of future generations. We are dedicated to supporting Nigeria at every juncture.”
Join our Channel...