News | Infectious Disease

Nigeria leads a global effort to  combat meningitis with the introduction of a revolutionary 5-in-1 Meningitis Vaccine

14 April 2024, 14:45

Nigeria has made history by rolling out a new vaccine for the prevention of meningitis. Men5CV®, which the WHO endorses, is effective against five strains of meningococcus bacteria. The rollout of the vaccine program took place in northern Nigeria, with over a million doses administered to individuals between the ages of 1 and 29 years of age during the period 25 - 29 March 2024.

Nigeria is one of 26 meningitis hyper-endemic African countries, with the region reporting a 50% increase in meningitis cases last year. Nigeria, in particular, faced a severe outbreak of Neisseria meningitides serogroup C, resulting in a high number of cases and deaths across its seven states.

The Men5CV ® vaccine offers a comprehensive shield against five major meningococcal strains, providing broader protection compared to existing vaccines, which are effective only against the A strain. Its introduction is a major step forward in reducing the disease's burden, particularly in regions like Nigeria, where multiple serogroups are prevalent.  
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This initiative aligns with WHO's global roadmap to defeat meningitis by 2030, which aims to eliminate epidemics, reduce cases and deaths, and improve quality of life post-meningitis.
 

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