Nigeria’s Ministry of Health has received over 1,000,000 pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV) doses from the Gavi-funded global stockpile to combat the meningococcus C and W outbreak in northern Nigeria.
The outbreak has already claimed nearly 80 lives, with more than 800 cases across 23 states. Seasonal outbreaks are common during the dry season, which runs from December to June, peaking between March and April when low humidity and high dust levels prevail.
The International Coordinating Group (ICG) has approved the deployment of over 1.5 million doses of Men5CV in response to Nigeria’s request in March 2025, BusinessDay reports.
This first shipment, according to a statement by Gavi on Friday, will enable the launch of an outbreak response campaign targeting individuals aged 1–29 years, the most severely affected group. The campaign will initially launch in Kebbi and Sokoto States, with plans to expand to Yobe State as additional doses arrive in the country.
Muhammad Pate, coordinating minister of Health & Social Welfare, 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. 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.
“We are grateful for the support of Gavi, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF in enabling this swift deployment. Together, we are not only containing today’s outbreak but also laying the foundation to eliminate meningitis and strengthen routine immunisation for the future”, he said.
Meningococcal meningitis – an infection of the meninges, the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord – is most prevalent in Africa’s “meningitis belt,” which stretches across 26 countries in Africa, from Senegal in the West to Ethiopia in the East, with an at-risk population of about 500 million. Those at highest risk of infection are infants, children and young adults.
One in four survivors suffers permanent disabilities such as hearing loss; seizures; limb weakness; difficulties with vision, speech, language, memory and communication; as well as scarring and limb amputations. Epidemics occur in the dry season (December–June), and a wave can last two to three years.
