Nigeria Receives Over One Million Meningitis Vaccines To Combat Outbreak In Northern States.
The Nigerian Government has taken a significant step in combating the ongoing meningitis outbreak in the country, following the arrival of over one million doses of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV). The vaccines, sourced from the Gavi-funded global stockpile, landed in Nigeria on Tuesday, 1 April 2025.
The shipment marks the first batch in a major emergency response campaign targeting the meningococcus C and W strains, which have severely impacted northern regions of the country. The campaign will initially roll out in Kebbi and Sokoto states, with Yobe to follow as more doses become available. The primary target group includes individuals aged 1 to 29 – the demographic most vulnerable to the disease.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, hailed the vaccine’s arrival as a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s public health efforts. He stated that the initiative reflects the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises the health and well-being of Nigerians, especially children and youth.
“This is a timely and vital intervention,” said Prof Pate, noting that the current outbreak has already resulted in more than 70 deaths and over 800 cases across 23 states.
The International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision approved Nigeria’s request in March, allocating over 1.5 million Men5CV doses for use in outbreak control. The Men5CV vaccine, introduced in 2023 and approved by the World Health Organization, provides protection against five major strains of meningococcal bacteria – a major advancement for countries within Africa’s so-called “meningitis belt”.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which funds the global stockpile, has played a key role in Africa’s fight against meningitis. Francisco Luquero, Gavi’s Head of High-Impact Outbreaks, emphasised that the partnership has already eliminated meningitis A from the region and that the arrival of Men5CV builds on this success.
UNICEF’s Nigeria Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, echoed the sentiment, stating: “Every child deserves protection from deadly diseases like meningitis. The arrival of these vaccines is a critical step in halting the spread and safeguarding Nigeria’s most vulnerable.”
UNICEF has pledged continued support in ensuring swift vaccine deployment, community engagement, and coordinated planning in collaboration with Gavi, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
Also present during the handover, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Nigeria Country Representative, praised the collaborative response, noting that the vaccine shipment offers renewed hope and a path toward preventing future outbreaks.
Since 2009, the global meningococcal vaccine stockpile has supported outbreak responses 68 times in 16 countries, with over 34 million doses deployed. Nigeria’s early access to Men5CV for outbreak containment, beginning in March 2024, positions the country at the forefront of regional efforts to defeat meningitis and protect millions across the meningitis belt.
