In a significant milestone, Nigeria has become the first country globally to introduce a new vaccine, Men5CV, endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This vaccine provides protection against five strains of the meningococcus bacteria. The rollout of the vaccine and accompanying emergency vaccination efforts are financially supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Gavi not only funds the global meningitis vaccine stockpile but also aids lower-income countries in implementing routine vaccination programs against meningitis.
Nigeria is among the 26 African countries situated in the meningitis hyper-endemic region known as the African Meningitis Belt.
The region experienced a 50% increase in reported annual meningitis cases last year, underscoring the urgency of initiatives like this vaccine rollout.
In Nigeria, an outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) serogroup C has resulted in 1,742 suspected cases of meningitis, including 101 confirmed cases and 153 fatalities across seven states (Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe, Zamfara) between October 1, 2023, and March 11, 2024.
To combat the deadly outbreak, a vaccination campaign targeting individuals aged 1-29 years was conducted from March 25 to 28, 2024, aiming to initially reach over one million people.
Meningitis is a severe infection characterised by inflammation of the membranes (meninges) surrounding and safeguarding the brain and spinal cord.
The condition can be caused by various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
Common symptoms include headache, fever, and a stiff neck. Bacterial meningitis is particularly grave and can lead to blood poisoning (septicaemia), posing a high risk of severe disability or death within 24 hours of contraction.
“Meningitis is an age-old and lethal adversary, but this novel vaccine has the potential to alter the course of the disease, halting future outbreaks and preserving countless lives,” remarked Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO). “Nigeria’s implementation marks progress toward our objective of eradicating meningitis by 2030.”
Why the new vaccine rollout matters
The groundbreaking new vaccine provides robust protection against the five primary strains of meningococcal bacteria (A, C, W, Y, and X) in a single dose.
These five strains are responsible for causing both meningitis and blood poisoning.
This broader coverage surpasses the efficacy of the current vaccine widely utilised in many parts of Africa, which only targets the A strain.
The introduction of the new vaccine holds immense promise in substantially decreasing meningitis cases and driving progress towards eradicating the disease.
This is particularly crucial for countries like Nigeria, where multiple serogroups are prevalent.
Utilising the same technology as the meningitis A conjugate vaccine (MenAfriVac®), which successfully eradicated meningococcal A epidemics in Nigeria, underscores the potential effectiveness of this new vaccine in combatting the disease.
“Northern Nigeria, particularly the states of Jigawa, Bauchi, and Yobe, were severely affected by the devastating meningitis outbreak, and this vaccine equips health workers with a new tool to not only halt this outbreak but also pave the way for disease elimination,” stated Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate of the Nigerian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
“We have undertaken extensive preparations, training health workers and strengthening the health system for the rollout of this new vaccine.
“We received invaluable support from our communities, even during the fasting period, and from our esteemed community leaders, notably the Emir of Gumel in Jigawa state, who personally launched the vaccination campaign.
“We will closely monitor progress and aim to expand immunization efforts in the coming months and years to accelerate our progress.”
The development of this new multivalent conjugate vaccine, which took 13 years to create, resulted from a partnership between PATH and the Serum Institute of India. Financing from the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office played a critical role in its development.
Roadmap for success: what you need to know
In July 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified the new Men5CV vaccine, branded as MenFive®, and in October 2023, issued an official recommendation for countries to introduce it. Gavi allocated resources for the Men5CV rollout in December 2023.
Currently, the vaccine is available for outbreak response through the emergency stockpile managed by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision.
Mass preventive campaigns are expected to commence in 2025 across countries in the Meningitis Belt.
“The deployment of one million vaccines in northern Nigeria will not only save lives and prevent long-term illness but also advance our objective of eradicating meningitis worldwide by 2030,” stated Andrew Mitchell, UK Minister for Development and Africa.
“This exemplifies the scientific innovation supported by the UK, and I anticipate similar breakthroughs in the future to aid us in eliminating other diseases.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has been actively assisting the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) in addressing the meningitis outbreak in the country.
This support encompasses various aspects such as disease surveillance, active case detection, sample testing, and case management.
Additionally, WHO and its partners have been instrumental in aiding Nigeria’s preparations for the introduction of the new vaccine, including training health workers for its administration.
“Year after year, meningococcal meningitis has plagued countries across Africa,” remarked Dr. Nanthalile Mugala, PATH’s Chief of Africa Region. “The introduction of MenFive® in Nigeria marks a pivotal moment in the battle against meningococcal meningitis in Africa.
Drawing on the foundation laid by past vaccination initiatives, this milestone represents over a decade of steadfast, collaborative partnerships.
The potential of MenFive® extends beyond its immediate impact, offering protection to countless lives in the years ahead and bringing us closer to a future devoid of this disease’s threat.”
In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners unveiled the global roadmap aimed at eradicating meningitis by 2030.
This roadmap outlines a comprehensive vision for achieving a world free of meningitis, with three primary goals:
– Elimination of bacterial meningitis epidemics.
– Reduction of cases of vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis by 50% and related deaths by 70%.
– Decrease in disability and enhancement of the quality of life after meningitis, regardless of the cause.
“Amidst the escalating outbreaks of infectious diseases globally, innovative solutions like MenFive® play a pivotal role in our countermeasures,” stated Aurélia Nguyen, Chief Programme Officer at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which finances the global stockpile and vaccine distribution in lower-income nations.
“This initial shipment marks the commencement of Gavi’s backing for a multivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MMCV) initiative. With the necessary donor funding secured for our upcoming five years of operations, we anticipate the rollout of pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines in high-risk countries.
“Thanks to vaccines, we have successfully eradicated major and disruptive outbreaks of meningitis A in Africa.
“Now, we possess a tool to combat other serogroups that continue to trigger substantial outbreaks, resulting in enduring disabilities and fatalities.”
Following Nigeria’s meningitis vaccine campaign, a significant milestone on the journey to combat meningitis is the international summit on meningitis scheduled to convene in Paris in April 2024.
During this summit, leaders from around the world will gather to commemorate achievements, address challenges, and chart the course forward.
It also serves as an occasion for country leaders and key partners to make political and financial commitments to expedite efforts towards eliminating meningitis as a public health concern by 2030.
YOU MAY ALSO READ: Over 492 evacuees from Gaza enter Egypt through Rafah border crossing during Eid-el-Fitr