By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigerian Government, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has received over 1 million doses of the Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (Men5CV) from the Gavi-funded global stockpile. The vaccine shipment, which arrived on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, is intended to combat the meningococcal C and W outbreak in Northern Nigeria.
This first batch of vaccines will kickstart a response campaign targeting individuals aged 1 to 29, the demographic most affected by the outbreak. The campaign will initially focus on Kebbi and Sokoto states, with plans to expand to Yobe as additional doses arrive.
Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, hailed the arrival of the Men5CV vaccines as a crucial step in Nigeria’s efforts to control the meningitis outbreak. He emphasized that this intervention aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes the health and well-being of Nigerians, particularly vulnerable children and young adults.
The ongoing outbreak has already claimed over 70 lives and affected more than 800 individuals across 23 states. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which funds global stockpiles for vaccines against various diseases including meningitis, approved Nigeria’s request in March 2025 for over 1.5 million doses of Men5CV to aid in the outbreak response.
Francisco Luquero, Gavi’s Head of High-Impact Outbreaks, remarked that with Gavi’s support, significant strides have been made in eliminating meningitis A from Africa’s meningitis belt. “Men5CV is a vital tool in preventing further outbreaks in high-risk regions,” he said.
Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, the WHO Nigeria Country Representative, commended the collaborative effort between the Nigerian government, WHO, Gavi, and other partners. He stressed that the arrival of the Men5CV vaccine is a vital component in safeguarding future generations and preventing further meningitis outbreaks.
UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative Cristian Munduate also emphasized the importance of the vaccine, stating, “Every child deserves protection from life-threatening diseases like meningitis,” and vowed to support the Nigerian government in ensuring rapid deployment and effective community engagement.
Since 2024, Gavi has supported the deployment of Men5CV vaccines for outbreak responses, routine immunizations, and preventive mass vaccination campaigns in Africa’s meningitis belt. Nigeria was the first country to receive Men5CV from the global stockpile in March 2024, marking a significant milestone in efforts to control the disease.
As of late 2024, the global meningococcal vaccine stockpile has been accessed 68 times by 16 countries, with over 34 million doses deployed to combat meningitis outbreaks.
