As the global endeavours against meningitis prevalence continues, Nigeria has emerged as the first to roll out a groundbreaking vaccine, Men5CV, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), that shields against five types of meningococcus bacteria. The funding for the vaccine and urgent vaccination campaigns comes from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which also backs the worldwide supply of meningitis vaccines and aids developing countries in regular meningitis immunization efforts. Nigeria is part of the African Meningitis Belt, which includes 26 African countries with high rates.
This new vaccine against the deadly disease of meningitis has emerged as an innovative tool to shift the course of the illness and bring about significant reductions in outbreaks and fatalities. In an effort to stop the outbreak in its tracks, a vaccination initiative was launched on March 25-28, 2024, with the goal of reaching over one million individuals aged 1-29. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, expressed that Nigeria’s vaccination campaign is a significant advancement towards eradicating meningitis by 2030. This new vaccine provides protection against the five main types of meningococcal bacteria (A, C, W, Y, and X), marking a groundbreaking milestone in the fight against this disease.
Health workers are equipped with Men5CV intervention.
The new vaccine offers more extensive coverage compared to the existing vaccine widely used in Africa, which only protects against strain A. Its potential to decrease meningitis cases and drive advancements in the fight against the disease is significant. This is particularly crucial for nations such as Nigeria where various serogroups are common. Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate from the Nigerian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare stated that the new vaccine, utilizing the technology of the MenAfriVac vaccine that eradicated meningococcal A epidemics in Nigeria, equips health workers with a powerful intervention to halt the current outbreak and work towards eliminating the disease in the country.
Pate emphasized the extensive preparation of health workers and the healthcare system for the introduction of the new vaccine. The support received from the population and community leaders, including the Emir of Gumel in Jigawa state, who officially kicked off the vaccination campaign, has been crucial. He expressed plans to closely monitor the advancement and potentially broaden the immunization efforts in the upcoming months and years to hasten progress. Andrew Mitchell, the UK Minister for Development and Africa, declared that the distribution of one million vaccines in northern Nigeria would play a crucial role in preserving lives, curbing prolonged sickness, and advancing our mission to eradicate meningitis worldwide by 2030.
WHO, partners have been instrumental in aiding Nigeria.
In October 2023, the WHO officially endorsed the introduction of the long-awaited Men5CV vaccine, under the brand name MenFive, which was prequalified in July of the same year. Developed over a span of 13 years, this groundbreaking multivalent conjugate vaccine was the result of a collaboration between PATH and the Serum Institute of India. Funding from the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office played a crucial role in the growth of the project. WHO has been providing assistance to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) in its efforts to combat the outbreak in the nation.
Also, WHO and various partners have been instrumental in assisting Nigeria to get ready for the introduction of the new vaccine and the training of health workers, ensuring a proactive approach to tackling the disease on the continent. Dr. Nanthalile Mugala, PATH’s Chief of Africa Region, emphasized the importance of disease surveillance, active case finding, sample testing, and case management in combating meningococcal meningitis in Africa. By leveraging the progress made through past vaccination campaigns, this significant achievement signifies more than ten years of collaborative and forward-thinking partnership.
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Additionally, this new vaccine offers more than just immediate benefits – it has the potential to safeguard countless lives in the future, bringing us one step closer to a world where this disease is no longer a threat. In April 2024, leaders will gather in Paris for an international summit on meningitis, marking a significant achievement in the fight against the disease following Nigeria’s successful vaccine campaign. This summit will be a chance to acknowledge the progress made, recognize the obstacles ahead, and strategize for the future.
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