Nigeria is rolling out Men5CV, a ‘revolutionary’ meningitis vaccine

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The new 5-in-1 vaccine protects against 5 strains that drive the bacterial form of meningitis. Nigeria is among a group of 26 countries known as the Africa Meningitis Belt In which cases rose by 50% in 2023. The WHO says the new vaccine has the potential to significantly cut cases and drive progress towards a global goal of eliminating meningitis by 2030.

Nigeria has become the first country in the world to introduce a new, revolutionary vaccine against meningitis. This 5-in-1 shot, called Men5CV, offers broader protection than existing vaccines.

Meningitis: a serious threat

Meningitis is a dangerous inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial meningitis, in particular, can be deadly, with one in six people who contract it succumbing to the illness and one in five experiencing lasting complications.

Nigeria, situated within the African Meningitis Belt, has been particularly affected by the disease. Cases surged by 50% in 2023, with a recent outbreak claiming 153 lives between October 2023 and March 2024.

The fight for immunization

The new Men5CV vaccine holds promise for eliminating meningitis by 2030, aligning with the WHO's broader goal of ensuring global access to life-saving vaccines. This fight extends beyond meningitis, as the pandemic disrupted childhood immunizations for millions.

To address this gap, the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Deloitte, has proposed a framework to expand regional vaccine manufacturing to make accessibility to vaccines safer, equitable, and reliable.