Nigeria Receives Over 1 Million Gavi-Funded Meningitis Vaccines

Nigeria has received over one million doses of the pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV) from the Gavi-funded global stockpile to address the ongoing meningitis C and W outbreak in the northern region, which has resulted in over 70 fatalities and 800 reported cases across 23 states. The vaccination campaign will primarily target individuals aged 1 to 29 years, the most affected demographic, and will start in Kebbi and Sokoto states, with plans to expand to Yobe State as more doses become available. The Minister of Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, emphasized the significance of this shipment as part of Nigeria's broader health security agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He acknowledged the support from Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF in facilitating this timely response. The seasonal nature of meningitis outbreaks in Nigeria, which peaks during the dry season from December to June, underscores the urgency of this vaccination effort. The initiative aims not only to control the current outbreak but also to strengthen future immunization efforts and eliminate meningitis.