Meningitis: Nigeria Gets 1m GAVI-funded Vaccines

The federal government has received over one million doses of the pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV) to combat a deadly meningitis outbreak that has claimed over 70 lives and infected more than 800 people across 23 states.

The vaccines, sourced from the Gavi-funded global stockpile, were delivered this week and will kick-start an outbreak response campaign targeting individuals aged 1 to 29 years, the most vulnerable group during meningitis season.

Coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, described the vaccine arrival as a “crucial milestone” in the country’s epidemic response efforts.

The initial rollout will begin in Kebbi and Sokoto states, with Yobe to follow when more doses arrive.

The outbreak, caused by the meningococcus C and W strains, coincides with Nigeria’s dry season, which typically sees a surge in meningitis cases between December and June, peaking in March and April.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, funds global vaccine stockpiles for outbreak-prone diseases including cholera, Ebola, yellow fever and meningitis. It also supports vaccine procurement, delivery, and campaign costs in low-income countries.

The International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision approved Nigeria’s request in March 2025, allowing over 1.5 million Men5CV doses to be deployed, with UNICEF facilitating the delivery.

Gavi’s Head of High-Impact Outbreaks, Francisco Luquero, said the vaccine is part of a broader strategy to eliminate meningitis by 2030.

“With Gavi’s support, vaccines successfully eliminated meningitis A from Africa’s meningitis belt. Now, they are combating other serogroups of this deadly disease,” he said.

The meningitis belt spans 26 countries from Senegal to Ethiopia, home to nearly 500 million people. The disease, which causes inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord, disproportionately affects infants, children and young adults. One in four survivors suffer lasting disabilities such as hearing loss, seizures and neurological damage.

UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, emphasised the importance of protecting children and young adults. “The arrival of the meningitis vaccine marks a critical step in stopping the current outbreak and safeguarding Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations,” she said.

WHO Nigeria Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, added that the Men5CV vaccine would also contribute to the country’s long-term health security. “While we address the ongoing outbreak, the Men5CV vaccine is also critical to Nigeria’s long-term health security. It will help prevent future outbreaks and safeguard future generations,” he noted.

Approved by WHO in 2023, Men5CV offers protection against five major meningococcal strains and represents a major advancement for countries in the meningitis belt. Nigeria was the first country to receive Men5CV from the global stockpile for outbreak response in March 2024, setting the stage for future use in routine immunisation and preventive campaigns.