Nigeria has received over one million doses of the new pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV) from the Gavi-funded global vaccine stockpile to combat a deadly outbreak of meningitis across 23 states in the country.
The outbreak, caused by the Neisseria meningitidis serogroups C and W, has already claimed more than 70 lives and infected over 800 people, mostly in northern Nigeria.
Meningitis outbreaks are common during the dry season, typically from December to June, with peak transmission occurring between March and April due to high dust levels and low humidity.
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This first shipment of Men5CV vaccines will be used to launch a large-scale outbreak response campaign targeting individuals aged 1 to 29 years, the age group most vulnerable to infection. The campaign will begin in Kebbi and Sokoto States, with plans to expand to Yobe State as more doses arrive in the country.
Speaking on the arrival of the vaccines, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the move as a “crucial milestone” in the country’s epidemic response. “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”. He said.
Dr. Pate highlighted the importance of epidemic preparedness and rapid response under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and Sector-Wide Approach.
He expressed appreciation to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF for supporting Nigeria’s swift response to the outbreak.
The International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision, which manages emergency stockpiles for meningitis, cholera, Ebola, and yellow fever, approved Nigeria’s request in March 2025, releasing over 1.5 million doses. UNICEF is supporting the Nigerian government with vaccine delivery, logistics, and community mobilization.
“With Gavi’s support, vaccines successfully eliminated meningitis A from Africa’s meningitis belt. Now, they are also combating other serogroups of this deadly and debilitating disease, bringing us closer to our goal of eliminating meningitis by 2030,” said Francisco Luquero, Gavi’s Head of High-Impact Outbreaks.
UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, emphasized the importance of timely intervention. “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 Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations, particularly children and young adults.”
WHO Nigeria Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, added: “The arrival of the Men5 vaccine provides a much-needed boost to our response efforts. It is also critical to Nigeria’s long-term health security. We are committed to supporting Nigeria every step of the way.”
Men5CV, approved by WHO in 2023, protects against five major strains of the meningococcal bacteria: A, C, W, Y, and X. This makes it especially effective for countries in Africa’s meningitis belt, which spans 26 countries from Senegal to Ethiopia and is home to over 500 million people at risk.
Gavi has supported meningitis vaccination efforts since 2009, helping eliminate meningitis A in Africa, with no reported cases since 2017. The Men5CV rollout marks a new phase in the continent’s efforts to eliminate meningitis altogether by 2030.
The Nigerian government, with support from its global health partners, remains committed to preventing further loss of life, protecting at-risk populations, and strengthening the health system to better respond to future outbreaks.
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