Nigeria Rolls Out Men5CV Meningitis Vaccine

April 16, 2024

Nigeria has become the first country in the world to roll out a new vaccine (Men5CV) recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect against five strains of the meningococcus bacteria. The vaccine is funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which supports lower-income countries with routine vaccination against meningitis.

Meningitis Outbreak in Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the 26 meningitis hyper-endemic countries in Africa and experienced an outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) serogroup C, leading to a significant number of cases and deaths. To address the outbreak, a vaccination campaign was undertaken to initially reach more than one million people aged 1-29 years.

About Meningitis

Meningitis is a serious infection that causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens, with bacterial meningitis being the most severe. Symptoms include headache, fever, and stiff neck, and the disease can be disabling or fatal if not treated promptly.

Bacterial meningitis is the most severe form, potentially leading to septicemia, disability, or death within 24 hours.
Symptoms include headache, fever, and stiff neck.
The new Men5CV vaccine protects against five major strains of meningococcal bacteria (A, C, W, Y, and X) in a single shot.
It provides broader coverage than the current vaccine used in much of Africa, which only targets the A strain.
The vaccine has the potential to significantly reduce meningitis cases and advance progress in defeating the disease.

More Details about New Men5CV Vaccine

The new Men5CV vaccine offers protection against the five major strains of the meningococcal bacteria (A, C, W, Y, and X) in a single shot, providing broader protection than previous vaccines. The technology used in this vaccine has already been successful in eliminating meningococcal A epidemics in Nigeria.

The Men5CV vaccine, also known as MenFive®, was developed through a 13-year partnership between PATH and the Serum Institute of India.
Critical funding for the vaccine’s development came from the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The vaccine uses the same technology as the meningitis A conjugate vaccine (MenAfriVac®), which successfully eliminated meningococcal A epidemics in Nigeria.
WHO prequalified the Men5CV vaccine in July 2023 and issued an official recommendation for countries to introduce it in October 2023.
The vaccine is currently available for outbreak response through the emergency stockpile managed by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision.
Roll-out through mass preventive campaigns is expected to start in 2025 across countries of the Meningitis Belt.

The Men5CV vaccine, with the brand name MenFive®, was developed through a partnership between PATH and the Serum Institute of India. It was officially recommended by WHO in October 2023 and received funding from the UK government for its development. GAVI has allocated resources for the rollout of the vaccine in Nigeria and other high-risk countries.

Global Efforts to Defeat Meningitis

In 2019, WHO and partners launched a global roadmap to defeat meningitis by 2030, setting goals to eliminate bacterial meningitis epidemics, reduce cases of vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis, and improve quality of life after meningitis. The introduction of the Men5CV vaccine in Nigeria is a significant step towards achieving these goals.

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