Nigeria makes medical milestone with world’s first 5-in-1 meningitis vaccine

Business a.m.

In a significant milestone for global health, Nigeria has taken the lead in combating meningococcal disease by becoming the first nation to introduce the Men5CV vaccine, which protects against five strains of meningococcal bacteria. The new vaccine, which is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is considered a crucial step forward in the fight against meningitis and other severe illnesses caused by meningococcus.

Business a.m. gathered that the historic breakthrough was made possible through the financial support of Gavi, the vaccine alliance, which has provided the funds necessary for the procurement and administration of Men5CV in Nigeria, as well as the funding for the global meningitis vaccine stockpile.

The newly developed vaccine is considered a groundbreaking advancement in the global fight against meningococcal bacteria, offering robust protection against five major strains (A, C, W, Y, and X) of the pathogen, which are responsible for meningitis and blood poisoning. Unlike the current vaccine widely used across Africa, which primarily targets the A strain, MenFive® provides more extensive protection, an important step forward in tackling meningococcal outbreaks.

With its place within the African Meningitis Belt, a region known for its high prevalence of meningitis outbreaks and its classification as one of the 26 hyper-endemic African countries, Nigeria has borne the brunt of the startling increase in reported meningitis cases across Africa. Reports showed that there was a 50 percent increase in annual meningitis cases reported across the second most populous continent. 

In the face of an escalating outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) serogroup C, Nigeria found itself confronting a dire health crisis in 2023 and 2024. A staggering 1742 suspected cases, 101 confirmed cases, and 153 deaths due to meningitis were reported in seven states (Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe, Zamfara) between 1 October 2023 and 11 March 2024. In response to the life-threatening outbreak, Nigerian health authorities took swift action, launching a massive vaccination campaign between 25 and 28 March 2024, aiming to immunise over one million people aged between 1 and 29 years in the affected regions. 

Meningitis is described by health practitioners as a condition that can be caused by a variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, leading to an inflammation of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.  The potentially life-threatening infection can manifest in a range of symptoms, with the most common being severe headache, high fever, and stiff neck. However, bacterial meningitis is the most serious of these forms, with the potential to cause septicemia (blood poisoning) and, in some cases, rapid progression to disability or death within a mere 24 hours from the onset of symptoms.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, noted that Nigeria’s rollout brings the organisation one step closer to its goal to eliminate meningitis by 2030.

“Meningitis is an old and deadly foe, but this new vaccine holds the potential to change the trajectory of the disease, preventing future outbreaks and saving many lives,” Ghebreyesus remarked.

Mohammed Ali Pate, Nigeria’s minister of health and social welfare, highlighted the devastating impact of meningitis outbreaks on Northern Nigeria, particularly in the states of Jigawa, Bauchi, and Yobe. As the country strives to contain the spread of the deadly disease, he underscored the crucial role of the newly developed vaccine in curbing the outbreak and putting Nigeria on a trajectory towards its eventual elimination.

“We’ve done a lot of work preparing health workers and the health system for the rollout of this new vaccine. We got invaluable support from our populations despite this fasting period and from our community leaders especially the Emir of Gumel in Jigawa State who personally launched the vaccination campaign in the state. 

“We’ll be monitoring progress closely and hopefully expanding the immunisation in the coming months and years to accelerate progress,” the minister stated.

Aurélia Nguyen, chief programme officer at Gavi, the vaccine alliance, highlighted the crucial role of innovative vaccines, such as MenFive®, in combating the alarming rise of infectious diseases across the globe. Nguyen noted that with global outbreaks on the rise, innovative solutions are imperative in the fight against these deadly diseases, especially in lower-income countries where access to healthcare may be limited. 

Following Nigeria’s successful meningitis vaccination campaign, the international community is turning its attention to the Meningitis Summit in Paris, in April 2024, where global leaders will convene to acknowledge the progress made in combating this devastating disease, evaluate ongoing challenges, and outline future steps toward eradicating meningitis by 2030.