The Federal Ministry of Health has received over one million doses of the newly approved pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV) from the Gavi-funded global stockpile.
The urgent consignment aims to halt the spread of meningitis serogroups C and W, which have already claimed more than 70 lives and infected over 800 people across 23 states.
The current outbreak, typical during Nigeria’s dry season from December to June, has reached a critical point, with March and April being the peak periods due to low humidity and high dust levels.
Health authorities are launching an emergency vaccination campaign targeting people aged 1 to 29—the most affected group. The response will begin in Kebbi and Sokoto states, with expansion to Yobe as additional doses arrive.
Describing the vaccine delivery as a “crucial milestone,” Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said it reflects the government’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“It reflects our commitment to protect the health and well-being of all Nigerians – especially our children and young people who are most vulnerable,” Prof. Pate stated.
“Through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, we have prioritized epidemic preparedness and rapid response. We are grateful to Gavi, WHO and UNICEF for enabling this swift deployment.”
The outbreak response is part of broader efforts to eliminate meningitis in Nigeria and across Africa’s meningitis belt, where around 500 million people are at risk. Gavi’s Head of High-Impact Outbreaks, Francisco Luquero, praised the progress, noting:
“With Gavi’s support, vaccines successfully eliminated meningitis A from Africa’s meningitis belt. Now, they are also combating other serogroups, bringing us closer to our goal of eliminating meningitis by 2030.”
Meningococcal meningitis is a life-threatening infection of the brain and spinal cord lining. Survivors often face long-term complications such as hearing loss, seizures, and limb amputations.
UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, emphasized the importance of protecting the most vulnerable:
“Every child deserves protection from life-threatening diseases like meningitis. The arrival of the vaccine marks a critical step in stopping the current outbreak and safeguarding children and young adults.”
“UNICEF is proud to support the government with rapid vaccine deployment and community engagement.”
Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, highlighted the long-term impact of the Men5CV vaccine:
“It provides a much-needed boost to our response efforts and is critical to Nigeria’s health security. We are committed to supporting Nigeria at every step.”
The International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision approved Nigeria’s request for 1.5 million Men5CV doses in March 2025. This follows WHO’s 2023 approval of the Men5CV vaccine, which offers broad protection against five major strains of meningococcus.
Since 2009, over 34 million vaccine doses have been distributed from the global meningococcal stockpile to 16 countries. With Nigeria now at the forefront of using Men5CV in outbreak response, stakeholders hope the country is a step closer to eliminating meningitis by 2030.
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