Nigeria has received over one million doses of the pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV) to contain the deadly outbreak of meningitis in the northern region, where 74 people have died and 807 suspected cases have been reported across 22 states.
The vaccines, drawn from the Gavi-funded global stockpile, arrived this week and will be used in a mass outbreak response targeting people aged one to 29 years—the group most affected.
“The arrival of the Men5CV vaccines is a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s response to the current meningitis outbreak,” said the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, in a statement on Friday, April 4.
“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,” Pate said.
“Through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach, we have prioritised epidemic preparedness and rapid response as part of our broader health security agenda.
“We are grateful for the support of Gavi, 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.”
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the case fatality rate stands at 9.2 per cent as of March 26, 2025. The first phase of vaccination will begin in Kebbi and Sokoto states and will expand to Yobe as more doses arrive.
Cristian Munduate, UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria, said, “Every child deserves protection from life-threatening diseases like meningitis, and the arrival of the meningitis vaccine marks a critical step in stopping the current outbreak and safeguarding Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations – particularly children and young adults, who are at the highest risk.
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“UNICEF is proud to support the government by ensuring rapid vaccine deployment, community engagement, and planning and implementation of the response, while working alongside Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, National Primary Health Care Development Agency and Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare to strengthen immunisation efforts in Nigeria.”
Dr Walter Mulombo, WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, added, “As Nigeria continues to combat the current meningitis outbreak, the arrival of the MenCV5 vaccine provides a much-needed boost to our response efforts.
“From research and development to delivery, the journey of the MenCV5 vaccine to Nigeria has been a collaborative effort between the Nigerian government, the WHO, Gavi, and other dedicated partners.
“While we address the ongoing outbreak, the MenCV5 vaccine is also critical to Nigeria’s long-term health security. It will help prevent future outbreaks and safeguard future generations; we are committed to supporting Nigeria at every step.”
Gavi’s Head of High-Impact Outbreaks, Francisco Luquero, stated, “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.
“Continued investment in this work is critical to protect the incredible progress made so far, control future outbreaks, and dramatically reduce the devastating impact that seasonal epidemics of meningitis have on families and communities.”
The WHO-approved Men5CV vaccine, which protects against five strains of meningococcal bacteria, was first rolled out in Nigeria in 2024. The disease continues to pose a severe threat, especially during the dry season from December to June, with peak infections between March and April.
The meningitis belt across sub-Saharan Africa includes 26 countries and a population of over 500 million. Survivors of the disease often suffer lasting complications, including hearing loss, seizures, and limb amputations.
In March 2025, Nigeria became the first country to receive the Men5CV from the global stockpile, marking what health officials see as a turning point in the fight to eliminate meningitis by 2030.