Nigeria Introduces Men5CV Vaccine to Combat Meningitis Outbreak
Nigeria has made history by becoming the first country to introduce the Men5CV vaccine, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). This groundbreaking vaccine, which protects against five strains of meningococcus, is a major step toward eradicating meningitis by 2030.
Meningitis is a serious disease that causes inflammation in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by a virus, bacteria, fungi, or parasite, and its symptoms include headache, fever, and stiff neck. In severe cases, bacterial meningitis can lead to blood poisoning, which can be fatal within 24 hours.
Nigeria, located in the African Meningitis Belt, is one of 26 hyper-endemic African countries for meningitis. Last year, the continent saw a 50% increase in meningitis cases. Nigeria itself has been grappling with an outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis (meningococci) serogroup C, with 1742 suspected cases and 153 tragic fatalities.
To address this crisis, Nigeria has launched a vaccination campaign targeting over one million people aged 1-29. The campaign will run from March 25 to 28, 2024, and aims to curb the spread of meningitis and save lives. The initiative, including emergency vaccinations, is funded by Gavi, an organization that helps low-income nations implement routine meningitis vaccinations and funds the meningitis vaccine stockpile.
The Men5CV vaccine, developed over 13 years by PATH and the Serum Institute of India, offers a breakthrough in meningitis prevention. It provides protection against all five major strains of meningococcal bacteria (A, C, W, Y, and X), making it broader and more effective than the current vaccine widely used in Africa. This new vaccine uses the same technology as MenAfriVac®, which successfully eradicated meningococcal A epidemics in Nigeria.
The Men5CV vaccine has received approval from the WHO, and Gavi has allocated funds for its rollout. This multivalent conjugate vaccine has the potential to halt the current meningitis outbreak and eliminate the disease in the long term. The Nigerian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, along with healthcare workers, have prepared extensively for the vaccine rollout.
The Emir of Gumel in Jigawa state personally launched the vaccination campaign and expressed gratitude for the support received from the community, especially during the fasting period. The progress of the campaign will be closely monitored, with plans to expand immunization efforts in the future.
Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is optimistic that the Men5CV vaccine can prevent future meningitis outbreaks and save countless lives. Nigeria’s introduction of this vaccine sets a precedent for other countries in the Meningitis Belt to follow suit and protect their populations from this devastating disease.