Nigeria has received more than one million doses of the pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV), supported by Gavi’s global stockpile. This delivery is part of the country’s effort to tackle a recent meningitis outbreak caused by meningococcus C and W strains in the northern regions.
The announcement was made on Friday in a joint statement by the Vaccine Alliance, Gavi, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The vaccine will be distributed to combat the ongoing meningitis cases, which have already led to over 800 suspected cases and 74 deaths across 22 states, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
As of March 26, 2025, the NCDC has recorded a case fatality rate of 9.2% in the affected regions, underscoring the urgency of the outbreak. The vaccine shipment marks the beginning of a nationwide response to the crisis. The vaccination campaign will initially target people aged one to 29, the group most severely impacted by the disease. The first phase of the campaign will begin in Kebbi and Sokoto states, with plans to extend to Yobe state as more vaccine doses arrive.
Prof. Muhammad Pate, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, described the vaccine delivery as a critical milestone in the country’s efforts to address the meningitis outbreak. He said, “The arrival of the Men5CV vaccines is a crucial milestone 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.”
Pate also highlighted the government’s broader health security agenda, which prioritizes epidemic preparedness and rapid responses. “Through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach, we have prioritized epidemic preparedness and rapid response as part of our broader health security agenda,” he added.
Gavi, which funds global vaccine stockpiles, supports countries in the fight against diseases like cholera, Ebola, yellow fever, and meningitis. It covers the costs of procurement, delivery, and outbreak response efforts, especially in lower-income nations. The organization has helped provide over 1.5 million doses of Men5CV in response to Nigeria’s request in March 2025.
Francisco Luquero, Gavi’s Head of High-Impact Outbreaks, noted the importance of continued investment in vaccination efforts. “With Gavi’s support, vaccines successfully eliminated meningitis A from Africa’s meningitis belt. Now, they are also combating other serogroups of this deadly and debilitating disease, bringing us closer to our goal of eliminating meningitis by 2030,” he said.
Meningitis remains a significant public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the “meningitis belt,” which stretches from Senegal to Ethiopia. The disease is most common during the dry season, from December to June, when dust and low humidity levels prevail. Meningitis outbreaks can cause severe complications, including permanent disabilities like hearing loss, seizures, and limb amputations in some survivors.
Cristian Munduate, UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria, expressed the organization’s support for the Nigerian government’s efforts. “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 safeguarding Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations,” he said.
The Men5CV vaccine, approved by WHO in 2023, offers protection against five major strains of meningococcal bacteria. It is a significant advancement in efforts to combat meningitis in the meningitis belt. Since 2024, Gavi has supported countries in deploying Men5CV for both outbreak responses and routine immunization programs, marking a long-term strategy to eliminate the disease by 2030.
This delivery of Men5CV to Nigeria follows the country’s pioneering role in rolling out the vaccine for outbreak containment in March 2024.
